And as for all who walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God. (Galatians 6:16)
One common image the Bible uses for the Godly life is walking. Enoch, Noah and Abraham were all described as walking with God and the Jews were often urged to walk in God’s laws. The Christian life is not a static one, but active. It is walking, not sitting.
The point of the image is that Christian life is one of progress and advancement. Growth is needed for the mustard seed to become a large plant. There is more, too: when we walk before God that means every part of our lives are lived in his presence. We march to a different beat and walk a different path.
In the end, this isall about putting Christianity into practice. Theory is all well and good, but practice brings the theory into reality. A guidebook is fine, but visiting a city is better. Head knowledge needs to become heart knowledge.
For many long centuries we have seen ourselves as a Christian nation, and so to walk the Christian path has been straightforward. Now, though, the Christian walk might be different to societies norms. No matter. In the end there is only one path which leads to “peace and mercy”. To quote from Watson once more:
When we leave men's inventions, and cleave to God's institutions; when we walk after the Word, as Israel after the pillar of fire; this is walking worthy of our heavenly calling.
