I Was Just Thinking … About Walking in His Ways

One of the helpful metaphors the biblical authors use characterizes our lives as a journey or a walk. For example, when Abraham turned ninety-nine, God said to him, “Walk about before me with integrity” (Genesis 17:1). After Solomon finished building the temple, Yahweh reminded him to “walk before me as your father David walked, in integrity of heart” (1 Kings 9:4).

The way we walk before God matters. He does not want us to shamble along, slouching and shuffling our feet. If we are God’s people, the way we walk affects the reputation of the One we represent. If we claim that he is our deity, our way of walking should confirm this claim. He says as much when he commands, “Do not falsely bear the name of Yahweh, your deity” (Exodus 20:7). This is at least partly what it means to walk with integrity.

Not only does he want our lives to be consistent, but he also wants us to “walk in his ways.” This is clearly implied in our original mandate to fill, subdue, and govern the earth in a way that God would declare good at the end of the day (Genesis 1:28). It becomes explicit in Deuteronomy where Moses reminds the Israelites “to walk in his ways” (8:6). Walking in his ways is associated with keeping all of the commandments, but is not synonymous with obeying them.

In other stories, the phrase “walk in his ways” means to emulate someone. For example, in Samuel’s story, the author describes Samuel’s sons by saying, “His sons did not walk in his ways,” by which he means they did not behave as their father did (1:8:3, 5). At the end of Deuteronomy, Moses affirms that Yahweh’s “ways,” referring to how Yahweh behaves, are just in that he is faithful and fair-dealing (32:4; cf. Psalm 25:8–9; Daniel 4:37). Although the word “ways” is not used, Yahweh’s propensity to extend extraordinary kindness to people also characterizes how he lives (Exodus 34:6–7; Numbers 14:18–19; Psalm 33:5; 107:1ff.). “As for God, integrity characterizes his way” (Psalm 18:30).

What characterizes our lives if we’re walking in his ways? Gracious kindness, faithfulness to God and other people, and actions that align with God’s designs for creation. We will consistently exhibit wisdom—act in a way we will not regret—as God has always done (Proverbs 8:22; 10:9). We will carefully walk away from doing harm (Proverbs 16:17; 21:29). When we fail at times, we will forsake wickedness and return to emulating God (Isaiah 55:7). In our fellowship with other followers of Jesus, we will do what we can to turn “a sinner from the error of his way,” which will save his soul from death (James 5:20).

Indeed, “walking in his ways” is not just an Old Testament idea. Jesus urged us as his disciples to imitate our heavenly Father: “Love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful” (Luke 6:35–36).

He certainly lived this way: By the power of the Holy Spirit, “he went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil” (Acts 10:38). And Paul, who imitated Christ, commanded the Church to do the same: “Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1). “Join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us” (Philippians 3:17). And he commended those who “also became imitators of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much tribulation with the joy of the Holy Spirit” (1 Thessalonians 1:6).

Therefore, let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary (Galatians 6:9). For “to those who by patience in well-doing seek glory and honor and immortality, God will give eternal life” (Romans 2:7; 1 Kings 8:39).