June 13
Walking Before God
The Christian's Daily Treasury"Walk before me, and be thou perfect." — Genesis 17:1.
THE Christian life is frequently compared to a walk, which intimates the existence of a spiritual principle, the exercise of that principle bringing it into action, and the increase and progression of it. Believers walk after God, as servants — with God, as friends — and before him, as children. We are led here to the contemplation of
WHAT GOD REQUIRES. The exhortation here given is to be taken under certain limitations. When we are called upon to be perfect, it does not intimate that sinless perfection is attainable here, but that we are to be sincere, and in every possible way endeavor to advance towards such a holy and happy state. Four things are involved in God's requirement.
A constant recognition of his presence. How few are there who cultivate such a desirable feeling! Walking before any individual of distinction is calculated to make us particular and circumspect as to our carriage: if the mind is so influenced by the presence of a fellow-creature, how much more should it be with the consciousness that we are surrounded with the Deity!
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A sincere obedience to his laws. Thus we are enjoined to walk in his statutes and ordinances, and to keep his way. We must walk before him in all religious duties and devotional engagements, whether secret, social, domestic, or public. We are really what we are before God.
An earnest aim at his glory. This should be our motive for action, and the governing principle of our minds, that God in all things may be glorified.
A holy imitation of his perfections. There are many of the essential attributes of Jehovah that are inimitable; but his moral perfections are placed before us as our pattern. Thus we are called upon to be followers of God, to be merciful as he is merciful, holy as he is holy, and perfect as he is perfect. There is a sense in which we are all walking before God. No power or policy can screen us from the eye of his Omniscience; like the lightning's flash, or the meridian sunbeam, it penetrates into the innermost recesses of the heart, and throws a glare of light on things concealed from human eye.