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“And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect” - Genesis 17:1
__________ Many people choose to have their own perception of what it means to "walk perfect before God." But in comparison to the standards God has outlined in His word, they are far from the straight line. First and foremost, we need to have an understanding of what God meant when He said "walk before me and be perfect." The word "walk" means to live, behave and conduct yourself in a certain manner. The word “perfect” means to be complete, full, or whole. So, with these two words brought together, we are given a clear and direct command from God, to live, behave and conduct ourselves as a new creature in His Son Jesus, full of the Holy Ghost. "And you are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power" (Colossians 2:10) "Therefore, brethren, look out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business" (Acts 6:3). In other words, to "walk upright" before our Holy Father who dwells in Heaven, is to live "righteously" or to do what's right in His sight according to the principles set forth in His word. "Little children, let no man deceive you: he that does righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous" (I John 3:7) A Simple Request When God gave a command to "walk upright" before Him, it wasn't a hard request. It wasn't something that could not be comprehended. It was a simple and intellectual request, that even a child can understand. It's just a matter of whether or not you really want to comply. "As you have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him" (Colossians 2:6). Heard It Before, And Again, And Again The command to "walk perfect before me" is not "a new thing" nor is it "a thing of the past. "Is there anything where it may be said, See, this is new? It has been already of old time, which was before us. Brethren, I write no new commandment unto you, but an old commandment which you had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which you have heard from the beginning." (Ecclesiastes 1:10, I John 2:7). If we follow this particular statement throughout the history of the bible, we can see that this command existed not only in the old testament, also in the new testament, when Jesus came and re-enforced it again: "Be you therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect." (Matthew 5:48). And this, in His absence, is what everyone of His Apostles taught in the early church, and should continue to be taught in the church today. Since we serve an unchangeable God, His word has not changed. What He expects of His people, has not changed. He is still holy and therefore, still expects that His people, whether they are from the old covenant or the new, to "walk upright" before Him. The question that should be pondering in the mind of every professed believer of Christ is this - why was this repeated so many times? Just as, why does the pastor constantly remind the people to give, or pay tithes? And why do physicians constantly remind their sick patients to take their prescribed medicine? - There is a reason. _______________ SUPPORTING SCRIPTURES _______________
Copyright © Gale Wilcox/A New Day Ministries Unless otherwise indicated, all scripture passages quoted are taken from the King James Version of the Bible.
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