The Christian's Daily Walk
by Henry Scudder
of Walking with God in General
- Introduction
- Section 1- Walking with God Described
- Section 2- Reasons why Christians should walk with God
- Section 3- Walking with God, to be constant and universal
Introduction
Beloved friend, observing your forwardness and zeal in seeking how to know
how you might please God, and save your soul; I thought it would be acceptable
and profitable to you, if I should, by the infallible rule of God's word,
direct you how, with most certainty, speed and ease, you might attain to
this your holy aim. Wherefore, considering that most of God's children make
their lives unprofitable and uncomfortable, by troubling themselves about
many things, Luke 10:40,41; and that too much in things less needful, by
caring and fearing what shall befall them and theirs hereafter, with respect
unto this present life; that you may obtain yourself within your own line
and calling, I exhort you heedfully to apply yourself to do each present
day's work with Christian cheerfulness, and to bear each present day's evil
with Christian patience.
Section 1: Walking with God Described
The best and surest way to please
God, and gain a cheerful quiet heart in the way to heaven is, to walk with
God in uprightness, (through faith in Jesus Christ,) being careful in nothing;
but in every thing, by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, to make
your request known unto God, which if you do, to peace of God, which passes
all understanding, shall so establish, your heart and mind, in and through
Christ Jesus, that you may live in a heaven upon earth, and may be joyous
and comfortable in all estates and conditions of life whatsoever.
That you should walk with God in uprightness, is commended to you in the cloud of examples, of Enoch, Genesis 5:22,24; Noah, Genesis 6:9; Job,Job 1:1; David, 1 Kings 9:4; Zacharius and Elizabeth, Luke 1:6; with many others, renowned in Scripture; and is commanded to Abraham, and, in him, to all the faithful, Genesis 17:1.
To live by faith (which is, to frame your heart and life according to the will of God revealed in His word) and to walk with God, are all one. Enoch was said to have walked with God, Genesis 5:24; what was this else, but to rest and believe on God, whereby he pleased him? Hebrews 6:5,6. For according to what we live, according to that we are said to walk, Colossians 3:7. The moral actions of man's life are fitly resembled by the metaphor of walking, which is a moving from one place to another. No man, while he lives here, is at home in the place where he shall be, Hebrews 13:14. There are two contrary homes, to which every man is always going, either to heaven, or to hell. Every action of man is one pace or step whereby he goes to the one place or the other. The holiness or wickedness of the action is the several way to the place of happiness, or place of torment.
So that God's own children, while they live in this world as pilgrims and strangers, but are in the way, not in the country which they seek, which is heavenly, Hebrews 11:3-16.
This life of faith and holiness, 1 Thessalonians 1:9,10, what is it, but a going out of man's self, and a continual returning to God, (by Christ Jesus) from the way of sin and death, and a constant perseverance in all those acts of obedience which God has ordained to be the way, for all his children to walk in, unto eternal life? Ephesians 2:10.
A godly life is said to be a walking with God in respect of four things that concur thereunto.
First, Whereas by sin we naturally are departed from God, Isaiah 53:6, and gone away from his ways which he has appointed for us, Romans 3:12, we, by the new and living way of Christ's death and resurrection, Hebrews 10:20, and by the new and living work of Christ's Spirit, are brought near to God; and are set in the ways of God, by repentance, from dead works, and by faith towards God in Christ Jesus; which are the first principles of true religion, Hebrews 6:1, and the first steps to this great duty of walking with God. Now, to believe and to continue in the faith, is, to walk in Christ, Colossians 2:6,7, therefore to walk with God.
Secondly, The revealed will of God is called God's way, because in it God does as it were display the secrets of his holy Majesty, to show his people their way to Him, and so bring them nigh unto Himself; as the inspired Psalmist speaks: Righteousness shall go before Him, and shall set us in the way of His steps, Psalm 85:13. Now this way of righteousness, revealed in the sacred scriptures, is the rule of a godly life: He who walks according to God's law, is said to walk before God, (compare 1 Kings 8:25, with 2 Chronicles 6:16.) So that he who walks according to God's will in the various changes and conditions of life, keeping himself to this rule, walks with God.
Thirdly, He that lives a godly life, walks after the Spirit, not after the flesh. He is lead by the Spirit of God, Romans 8:1-14, having Him for his guide; wherefore in this respect also he is said to walk with God, Galations 5:16.
Fourthly, He that walks with God, sees, by the eye of faith, God present with him in all his actions; seriously thinking of Him upon all occasions, remembering Him in his ways, Isaiah 64:5: setting the Lord always before him, as David did, Psalm 16:8; seeing him that is invisible, as Moses did, Hebrews 11:27; doing all things, as Paul did, as of God, in the sight of God, 2 Corinthians 2:17. Now he whose walks that he always observes God's presence, and keeps Him still in his view in the course of his life, not only can, with actual intention to please and glorify God, this man may be said to walk with God.
Thus you may know when you walk with God: (1) When you daily go to repent of sins past, believe in Jesus Christ for pardon, and believe His word for direction. (2) When you walk not according to the will of man, but of God. (3) When you walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. (4) When you set God before you, and walk as in His sight, then you walk with, before, after and according to God; for all these are understood in one sense.
That you may walk with God, consider there arguments further to convince and induce you:
That you should walk with God in uprightness, is commended to you in the cloud of examples, of Enoch, Genesis 5:22,24; Noah, Genesis 6:9; Job,Job 1:1; David, 1 Kings 9:4; Zacharius and Elizabeth, Luke 1:6; with many others, renowned in Scripture; and is commanded to Abraham, and, in him, to all the faithful, Genesis 17:1.
To live by faith (which is, to frame your heart and life according to the will of God revealed in His word) and to walk with God, are all one. Enoch was said to have walked with God, Genesis 5:24; what was this else, but to rest and believe on God, whereby he pleased him? Hebrews 6:5,6. For according to what we live, according to that we are said to walk, Colossians 3:7. The moral actions of man's life are fitly resembled by the metaphor of walking, which is a moving from one place to another. No man, while he lives here, is at home in the place where he shall be, Hebrews 13:14. There are two contrary homes, to which every man is always going, either to heaven, or to hell. Every action of man is one pace or step whereby he goes to the one place or the other. The holiness or wickedness of the action is the several way to the place of happiness, or place of torment.
So that God's own children, while they live in this world as pilgrims and strangers, but are in the way, not in the country which they seek, which is heavenly, Hebrews 11:3-16.
This life of faith and holiness, 1 Thessalonians 1:9,10, what is it, but a going out of man's self, and a continual returning to God, (by Christ Jesus) from the way of sin and death, and a constant perseverance in all those acts of obedience which God has ordained to be the way, for all his children to walk in, unto eternal life? Ephesians 2:10.
A godly life is said to be a walking with God in respect of four things that concur thereunto.
First, Whereas by sin we naturally are departed from God, Isaiah 53:6, and gone away from his ways which he has appointed for us, Romans 3:12, we, by the new and living way of Christ's death and resurrection, Hebrews 10:20, and by the new and living work of Christ's Spirit, are brought near to God; and are set in the ways of God, by repentance, from dead works, and by faith towards God in Christ Jesus; which are the first principles of true religion, Hebrews 6:1, and the first steps to this great duty of walking with God. Now, to believe and to continue in the faith, is, to walk in Christ, Colossians 2:6,7, therefore to walk with God.
Secondly, The revealed will of God is called God's way, because in it God does as it were display the secrets of his holy Majesty, to show his people their way to Him, and so bring them nigh unto Himself; as the inspired Psalmist speaks: Righteousness shall go before Him, and shall set us in the way of His steps, Psalm 85:13. Now this way of righteousness, revealed in the sacred scriptures, is the rule of a godly life: He who walks according to God's law, is said to walk before God, (compare 1 Kings 8:25, with 2 Chronicles 6:16.) So that he who walks according to God's will in the various changes and conditions of life, keeping himself to this rule, walks with God.
Thirdly, He that lives a godly life, walks after the Spirit, not after the flesh. He is lead by the Spirit of God, Romans 8:1-14, having Him for his guide; wherefore in this respect also he is said to walk with God, Galations 5:16.
Fourthly, He that walks with God, sees, by the eye of faith, God present with him in all his actions; seriously thinking of Him upon all occasions, remembering Him in his ways, Isaiah 64:5: setting the Lord always before him, as David did, Psalm 16:8; seeing him that is invisible, as Moses did, Hebrews 11:27; doing all things, as Paul did, as of God, in the sight of God, 2 Corinthians 2:17. Now he whose walks that he always observes God's presence, and keeps Him still in his view in the course of his life, not only can, with actual intention to please and glorify God, this man may be said to walk with God.
Thus you may know when you walk with God: (1) When you daily go to repent of sins past, believe in Jesus Christ for pardon, and believe His word for direction. (2) When you walk not according to the will of man, but of God. (3) When you walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. (4) When you set God before you, and walk as in His sight, then you walk with, before, after and according to God; for all these are understood in one sense.
That you may walk with God, consider there arguments further to convince and induce you:
Section 2: Reasons why Christians should walk with God
First, You are commanded
to walk as Christ walked, 1 John 2:6; and it concerns you so to do, if you
would approve yourself to be a member of His body: for it it monstrous, nay,
impossible, that the head should go one way, and the body another. Now our
Saviour Himself observed all these methods of walking with God, justifying
faith and repentance only expected, because He was without sin.
Secondly, It is all which the Lord requires of you, for all His love and goodness shows unto you, in creating, preserving, redeeming, and saving you. For, what does the Lord require of you, but to do justly, and love mercy, and walk humbly with your God? Micah 6:8.
Thirdly, If you walk with God, and keep close to Him, you will be sure to go in the right way, in that good old way, Jeremiah 6:16, which is called the way of holiness, Isaiah 35:8; in a most straight way, Proverbs 3:17, more sure, and (to a spiritual man) most pleasant way, the paths if which are peace; the very happiness and rest of the soul, Jeremiah 6:16. God teaches his children to choose this way, Isaiah 48:17, Psalm 85:13, Psalm 37:23. And if they happen to err, or to doubt of their way, they shall hear the voice of God's Spirit behind them, saying, This is the way, walk in it, Isaiah 30:21.
Fourthy, If you walk with God, you shall walk safely; Proverbs 3:24, Psalm 37:24; you will not need to fear, though ten thousand set themselves against you, Psalm 3:5,6; for His presence is with you, and for you. His holy angels encamp about you, Psalm 34:7; and while you walk in His ways, they are charged to support you, Psalm 91:11,12, lest you should receive any harm.
Fifthly, When you walk with God (though you be alone, separate from all other society) you still walk with the best company, even such whereof there is most need, and best use. While God and you walk together, you have the advantage above all that walk not with Him' for you have a blessed opportunity of that holy acquaintance with God, which is expressed Job 32:21-30. You have opportunity to speak unto Him, praying with assurance of a gracious hearing. Abraham and his faithful servant made use of their walking with God for these purposes, Genesis 24. Is it not a special favour that the most high God, whose throne is in heaven, should condescend to walk on earth with sinful man? nay rather to call up man from earth to heaven, to walk with Him? Philippians 3:20, Colossians 3:2. It would be therefore shameful ingratitude not to accept this offer, and not to obey this charge.
Sixthy, To set the Lord always in you sight, is an excellent preservative and restraint from sin. With this shield Joseph did repel and quench the fiery darts of the temptations of his designing mistress, Genesis 39:9. For who is so foolish, and shameless, as willfully to transgress the just laws of a Father, King, and Judge, knowing that He is present, and observes him with desolation if he so do?
Seventhly, To set the Lord always before you, Psalm 119:168, is an excellent remedy against spiritual sloth and negligence in duties, and it is a sharp spur to quicken, and make you diligent and abundant in the word of the Lord. What servant can be slothful and careless in his masters sight? And what master will keep a servant that will not observe him, and do his commands, while he himself looks on?
Eightly, Walking with God in manner aforesaid, does exceedingly please God, Hebrews 11:5. It also pleases God's holy angels, 1 Corinthians 11:10. It pleases God's faithful ministers, 3 John 3, and does please and strengthen all the good people of God, Psalm 119:74, with whom you do converse. Its is to walk worthy of God in all well pleasing, Colossians 1:9,10.
Ninthly, Thus walking with God, you shall be assured of God's mercy and gracious favour. He keeps covenant and mercy with all his servants, that walk before Him with all their heart, 1 Kings 8:23. When you do thus walk in the light, you have a gracious fellowship with God, and the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses you from all sin, 1 John 1:7. There is no condemnation to you who thus walk, Romans 8:1. Your flesh, when you die, shall rest in hope. For the them that set God before them, he does show the path of life, which will bring then into His glorious presence, where are fulness of joys, and pleasures for ever more, Psalm 16:11.
Any one of these motives, seriously thought upon by a humble Christian, is enough to persuade him to this holy walking with God.
Not withstanding, it is sad to consider, how few there are who walk thus. For most men seek not after God, God is not in all their thoughts, Psalm 10:4; they walk in the vanity of their minds, Ephesians 4:17, after their own lusts, 2 Peter 3:3; the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, 1 John 2:16; walking according to the course of this world, according to the will of Satan, the prince of the power of the air, Ephesians 2:2, the spirit that not works in the children of disobedience; who refuse to return, or to call themselves into questions concerning their ways, thought God does wait and hearken for it; not, not so much as to say, What have we done? Jeremiah 13:6; but everyone runs to his course, as the horse runs into the battle.
Now, concerning all that walk this contrary into God, God has said, that He will set His face against them, and punish then seven times, Leveticus 26:21-28; even with many and sore plagues. And if yet they will walk contrary to Him, He will walk contrary to them in fury, and punish them seven times more for their sins. And if yet they walk in impenitency, notwithstanding God's offer of mercy to them in Christ, Paul could not speak of such with dry eyes, but peremptorily pronounce that their end is destruction, Philippains 3:18,19.
Weight well, therefore, these premises; compare the way, wherein you walk with God, with all other ways; compare this company with all other company, and the issues and end of this way with the issues and end of all other ways: and the proper choice of your walk will easily and quickly be made.
Thus much may be said in general of walking with God.
Secondly, It is all which the Lord requires of you, for all His love and goodness shows unto you, in creating, preserving, redeeming, and saving you. For, what does the Lord require of you, but to do justly, and love mercy, and walk humbly with your God? Micah 6:8.
Thirdly, If you walk with God, and keep close to Him, you will be sure to go in the right way, in that good old way, Jeremiah 6:16, which is called the way of holiness, Isaiah 35:8; in a most straight way, Proverbs 3:17, more sure, and (to a spiritual man) most pleasant way, the paths if which are peace; the very happiness and rest of the soul, Jeremiah 6:16. God teaches his children to choose this way, Isaiah 48:17, Psalm 85:13, Psalm 37:23. And if they happen to err, or to doubt of their way, they shall hear the voice of God's Spirit behind them, saying, This is the way, walk in it, Isaiah 30:21.
Fourthy, If you walk with God, you shall walk safely; Proverbs 3:24, Psalm 37:24; you will not need to fear, though ten thousand set themselves against you, Psalm 3:5,6; for His presence is with you, and for you. His holy angels encamp about you, Psalm 34:7; and while you walk in His ways, they are charged to support you, Psalm 91:11,12, lest you should receive any harm.
Fifthly, When you walk with God (though you be alone, separate from all other society) you still walk with the best company, even such whereof there is most need, and best use. While God and you walk together, you have the advantage above all that walk not with Him' for you have a blessed opportunity of that holy acquaintance with God, which is expressed Job 32:21-30. You have opportunity to speak unto Him, praying with assurance of a gracious hearing. Abraham and his faithful servant made use of their walking with God for these purposes, Genesis 24. Is it not a special favour that the most high God, whose throne is in heaven, should condescend to walk on earth with sinful man? nay rather to call up man from earth to heaven, to walk with Him? Philippians 3:20, Colossians 3:2. It would be therefore shameful ingratitude not to accept this offer, and not to obey this charge.
Sixthy, To set the Lord always in you sight, is an excellent preservative and restraint from sin. With this shield Joseph did repel and quench the fiery darts of the temptations of his designing mistress, Genesis 39:9. For who is so foolish, and shameless, as willfully to transgress the just laws of a Father, King, and Judge, knowing that He is present, and observes him with desolation if he so do?
Seventhly, To set the Lord always before you, Psalm 119:168, is an excellent remedy against spiritual sloth and negligence in duties, and it is a sharp spur to quicken, and make you diligent and abundant in the word of the Lord. What servant can be slothful and careless in his masters sight? And what master will keep a servant that will not observe him, and do his commands, while he himself looks on?
Eightly, Walking with God in manner aforesaid, does exceedingly please God, Hebrews 11:5. It also pleases God's holy angels, 1 Corinthians 11:10. It pleases God's faithful ministers, 3 John 3, and does please and strengthen all the good people of God, Psalm 119:74, with whom you do converse. Its is to walk worthy of God in all well pleasing, Colossians 1:9,10.
Ninthly, Thus walking with God, you shall be assured of God's mercy and gracious favour. He keeps covenant and mercy with all his servants, that walk before Him with all their heart, 1 Kings 8:23. When you do thus walk in the light, you have a gracious fellowship with God, and the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses you from all sin, 1 John 1:7. There is no condemnation to you who thus walk, Romans 8:1. Your flesh, when you die, shall rest in hope. For the them that set God before them, he does show the path of life, which will bring then into His glorious presence, where are fulness of joys, and pleasures for ever more, Psalm 16:11.
Any one of these motives, seriously thought upon by a humble Christian, is enough to persuade him to this holy walking with God.
Not withstanding, it is sad to consider, how few there are who walk thus. For most men seek not after God, God is not in all their thoughts, Psalm 10:4; they walk in the vanity of their minds, Ephesians 4:17, after their own lusts, 2 Peter 3:3; the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, 1 John 2:16; walking according to the course of this world, according to the will of Satan, the prince of the power of the air, Ephesians 2:2, the spirit that not works in the children of disobedience; who refuse to return, or to call themselves into questions concerning their ways, thought God does wait and hearken for it; not, not so much as to say, What have we done? Jeremiah 13:6; but everyone runs to his course, as the horse runs into the battle.
Now, concerning all that walk this contrary into God, God has said, that He will set His face against them, and punish then seven times, Leveticus 26:21-28; even with many and sore plagues. And if yet they will walk contrary to Him, He will walk contrary to them in fury, and punish them seven times more for their sins. And if yet they walk in impenitency, notwithstanding God's offer of mercy to them in Christ, Paul could not speak of such with dry eyes, but peremptorily pronounce that their end is destruction, Philippains 3:18,19.
Weight well, therefore, these premises; compare the way, wherein you walk with God, with all other ways; compare this company with all other company, and the issues and end of this way with the issues and end of all other ways: and the proper choice of your walk will easily and quickly be made.
Thus much may be said in general of walking with God.
Section 3: Walking with God , to be Constant and Universal
The commandment to walk with God
is indefinite, without limitation, therefore must be understood to be a walking
with Him in all things, and that at all times, in all companies, and in all
changes, conditions, and estates of your life, whatsoever. To walk with God
in general and at large is not sufficient.
You are not dispensed with for any moment of your life; but all the days of your life, and each day of your life, and each hour of that day, and each minute of that of that hour; you must pass the time, 1 Peter 1:17, the whole time of you dwelling here in fear; even all the day long, says Solomon, Proverbs 23:17. You must endeavour to have a conscience void of offence always, Acts 24:16. You must live the rest of your life, 1 Peter 4:2, not to the lusts of men, but to the will of God; taking heed lest at any time there be in you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God, Hebrews 3:12.
1. For this end Christ did redeem you from the hands of your enemies, that you might serve Him in holiness and righteousness (which is the same with walking with God) all the days of your life without fear, Luke 1:74,75.
2. The end of the instructions of God's word, which is the light of your feet in this walking, is, that it be bound upon your heart continually, to lead, keep, and converse with you at all times, Proverbs 11:21,22.
3. The lusts of your own heart, and your adversary the devil lie always upon the advantage to hinder you in, or divert you from, this godly course, 1 Peter 5:8, so that, upon every intermission of your holy care to please God, they take their opportunity to surprise you.
4. You are accountable unto God for losing and mis-spending all that precious time wherein you do not walk in His ways, Ephesians 5:16.
5. Besides, he that has much work to do, or that is in a long journey, or is running race for a wager, has no need to lose any time. If you be long obstructed in you Christian work and race, by sin and sloth, you will hardly recover your loss but with much sorrow, with renewed faith, and with more than ordinary repentance.
Wherefore when you awake in the night, or in the morning, and while you are employed in the day, and when you betake yourself to sleep at night, you must, as David, have thoughts of God, and set Him always before you, Psalm 16:8, Acts 2:25. When I awake, I am still with you, says He, Psalm 139:18; and in the night he remembered God, Psalm 63:6; and his hope and meditation was on God's word, Psalm 119:147,148. And Isaiah (in the person of all the faithful) says, With my soul have I desired You in the night, yea, my spirit within me will seek you early. Isaiah 25:9.
You are not dispensed with for any moment of your life; but all the days of your life, and each day of your life, and each hour of that day, and each minute of that of that hour; you must pass the time, 1 Peter 1:17, the whole time of you dwelling here in fear; even all the day long, says Solomon, Proverbs 23:17. You must endeavour to have a conscience void of offence always, Acts 24:16. You must live the rest of your life, 1 Peter 4:2, not to the lusts of men, but to the will of God; taking heed lest at any time there be in you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God, Hebrews 3:12.
1. For this end Christ did redeem you from the hands of your enemies, that you might serve Him in holiness and righteousness (which is the same with walking with God) all the days of your life without fear, Luke 1:74,75.
2. The end of the instructions of God's word, which is the light of your feet in this walking, is, that it be bound upon your heart continually, to lead, keep, and converse with you at all times, Proverbs 11:21,22.
3. The lusts of your own heart, and your adversary the devil lie always upon the advantage to hinder you in, or divert you from, this godly course, 1 Peter 5:8, so that, upon every intermission of your holy care to please God, they take their opportunity to surprise you.
4. You are accountable unto God for losing and mis-spending all that precious time wherein you do not walk in His ways, Ephesians 5:16.
5. Besides, he that has much work to do, or that is in a long journey, or is running race for a wager, has no need to lose any time. If you be long obstructed in you Christian work and race, by sin and sloth, you will hardly recover your loss but with much sorrow, with renewed faith, and with more than ordinary repentance.
Wherefore when you awake in the night, or in the morning, and while you are employed in the day, and when you betake yourself to sleep at night, you must, as David, have thoughts of God, and set Him always before you, Psalm 16:8, Acts 2:25. When I awake, I am still with you, says He, Psalm 139:18; and in the night he remembered God, Psalm 63:6; and his hope and meditation was on God's word, Psalm 119:147,148. And Isaiah (in the person of all the faithful) says, With my soul have I desired You in the night, yea, my spirit within me will seek you early. Isaiah 25:9.