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I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called.¹

It is quite daunting that I am expected to have a demeanor that reflects well of our Lord Jesus Christ. For if left to my own strength, I would fail miserably. Like Paul, when in the flesh, he didn’t understand his actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. . .  So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing.²

Fortunately, we do not have to rely on our own strength but on the grace given to each of us as a gift.³ David boasts, I have walked (past tense) in my integrity and I have trusted in the LORD without wavering.⁴ For your steadfast love is before my eyes, and I walk (present tense) in your faithfulness.⁵ But as for me, I shall walk (future tense) in my integrity; redeem me, and be gracious to me.⁶  On account of what Jesus has done on the cross, we are made clean, holy, and accepted by the Beloved.⁷ David trusted the LORD. By grace he was able to walk in the LORD’s integrity which was imputed on him; thus, he claimed as his own. For he was made whole [Integrity is defined as the state of being whole and undivided⁸].

The Passover⁹ depicts a picture of grace given all those who believe in Jesus. All who obeyed were spared from death—they put blood on the two doorposts and the lintel of their house, entered it, and ate the LORD’s Passover. In a similar manner, Jesus is the LORD’s Passover. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us.¹⁰

The first mention of the word walk is found in Genesis. And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, . . .¹¹ It is a picture of God taking a leisurely walk in the midst of his plush garden, simply enjoying the pleasant weather. Man and woman were with God. In God’s presence there is no striving; he gives us rest.¹² But the man and the woman chose to sin; it brought fear, shame, blame, and separation from God.¹³

Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do in the futility of their minds. They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to the hardness of heart. They have become callous . . .¹⁴ Rather, we are to walk in love.¹⁵ The manifestation of love is joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.¹⁶ Whereas, before we were darkness, but now we are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true).¹⁷ Look carefully then how you walk not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time because the days are evil. Therefore, do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.¹⁸

My foot stands on level ground; in the great assembly I will bless the LORD.¹⁹