Keep Walking

We often hear about the benefits of walking for our physical health. Walking promotes a healthy heart, it increases circulation, it helps deter many diseases such as diabetes, and it increases brain function and digestion. The benefits of even 10 minutes of walking abound.

Yet, it requires discipline to walk every day. Now with the warmer weather and summer approaching, we can more easily go outside and enjoy the fresh air and sunshine all while reaping the benefits of physical exercise.

Walking is also a spiritual exercise. The book of Genesis records a few verses about the man Enoch who regularly walked with God.

When Enoch had lived 65 years, he became the father of Methuselah. After he became the father of Methuselah, Enoch walked faithfully with God 300 years and had other sons and daughters. Altogether, Enoch lived a total of 365 years. Enoch walked faithfully with God; then he was no more, because God took him away. (Genesis 5:21-24)

The verb ‘walked’ or ‘walking’ indicates continued action. It indicates every day he did something to promote his spiritual life, his relationship with God. And this was before a written Bible existed. He found a way to communicate with and listen to God and he kept in step with God’s ways. Even on difficult days, he kept putting one foot in front of the other.

Enoch’s story covers just a few short verses. It does, however, seem to indicate that his walking with God began after the birth of his first son. Apparently, he needed God’s wisdom to raise his son and God helped him because his son became the oldest man who ever lived! Enoch not only desired God to walk with him, but he put legs to his desires. The result was the kind of life that made God happy. For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God. (Hebrews 11:5.)

As you walk outside or inside, or do your stretches in your apartment, ponder what it means to walk with God.

And, thanks to Dads who give a steady example for their family.

“Happy Father’s Day”!!

+Sherree Lane, Campus Pastor