The Most Difficult Word in the Bible

There are quite a few mind-twisting concepts, statements, and words in the Bible such as "propitiation," "sanctification," and "regeneration." If you think those are relatively tame, I challenge you to tackle the book of Revelation.

But, seriously, despite these things, I feel there is still one word not many have thought about as being a difficult word to understand, comprehend, and live out. I am talking about the word "walk." So you respond, "are you kidding? The word 'w-a-l-k' as in 'putting one foot in front of the other?'" Yes, THAT word.

After all, “walking” is referenced well over 200 times in the Bible. The first reference to walking comes as early as Genesis 3:8, where Adam and Eve “heard the Lord God walking about in the Garden in the cool of the evening.” Also, one of the most preached “walking story” of Jesus is the post-resurrection event of traveling along with the two disciples on the road towards Emmaus.

For us, walking is obviously one of the Bible’s most vivid metaphors for how godly people should live. In a positive way, it shows us how to “walk in newness of life” and how to “walk” on the right paths and how to avoid walking along the wrong paths of the world.

Yet, in the end, all this “pedestrian talk” as a Christian, is hard and takes committed effort. It is challenging. It takes great discipline, obedience, surrender and sacrifice. So, the walking that I am talking in this BLOG is about walking with God.

I am talking about having such a deep, devoted, personal, intimate and loving relationship with God that you can truly and honestly walk with your heavenly Father spiritually and physically every moment of your life.

Adam and Eve walked with God in the cool of the day. Enoch walked with God (Genesis 5:22) as did Noah (Genesis 6:9). THIS is why "walk" is the hardest word to understand. The fact that the Creator of the universe wants to be more than "just God" to me...more than just "up there in Heaven."

One of God's greatest desires is for us to come near...close...even closer. James 4:8 tells us, “Come close to God, and God will come close to you….” Am I willing to get "up close and personal" with God or have I come too comfortable staying at a distance?

May we discover a whole new meaning to the word "walk" when it involves deepening and strengthening our relationship with God. Blessings to you along the journey.

Tetelestai!

Just before Jesus gives up His spirit on the cross, He utters a very powerful word. The word that He cries out is “ tetelestai” (tih-tellis-tie). When literally translated, this word means, “It is finished.” It can also refer to something completed or accomplished. The word occurs in John 19:28 and 19:30 and these are the only two places in all of the New Testament where it is found. In the John19:28 passage, it is translated, “After this, when Jesus knew that all things were now completed , in order that the scripture might be fulfilled, he said, ‘I thirst.’” Two verses later, he utters the word himself: “Then when he received the sour wine Jesus said, ‘ It is finished ,’ and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.” Did you know that the word tetelestai was also written on business documents or receipts in New Testament times to show indicating that a bill had been paid in full? The Greek-English lexicon (by Moulton and Milligan) sa...

The 50-Days of Easter

Jesus rose from the dead. Period! He is alive. We are “easter people” and live daily as proof that He is risen from the dead. He did walk out of the grave. He conquered death. Jesus not only came back to life, but He stayed on earth to be seen by many witness. 1 Corinthians 15:5-8 , “ He was seen by Peter and then by the Twelve. After that, he was seen by more than 500 of his followers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died. Then he was seen by James and later by all the apostles. Last of all, as though I had been born at the wrong time, I also saw him.” After the resurrection, Jesus spent forty days on earth before He ascended back to His rightful place (1 Peter 3:22), and then there were ten more days after that before the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1-47). Jesus accomplished many things in this time between His resurrection and return to Heaven. One of the most important was actually a command to us. We refer to this impor...

Not Rejected

I think we could spend hours, if not days, in just the sixth chapter of John’s Gospel. If there is one thing that is made clear in this writing is that God is passionately pursuing us and bidding us to have a relationship with Him that is restored by His Son, Jesus. There is one verse, in particular, that stands out to me. John 6:37 , “However, those the Father has given me will come to me, and I will never reject them.” Those that come to Jesus will never be rejected. If you come to Jesus, just as you are now, he will not turn you away. He gladly welcomes you to come to him. It is not God’s design or plan that we live separated from Him. He makes the way for that relationship to happen. He initiated the plan. He paid the price. He gives freely. He gives us free-will to choose or reject that offer of reconciliation through Jesus, His Son. God makes His intent clear: Ezekiel 33:11 , “As surely as I live, says the Sovereign Lord, I take no pleasure in the ...

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