The other day, my 22-year-old son and I took a walk to a bookstore. He’s at least six inches taller than I am, and while he casually walked down the street, I was at a half-sprint to keep up. Keeping in step with him was challenging, and when my pride and legs could take it no longer, I had to ask him to slow down.
One of Paul’s favorite metaphors for the Christian life is walking. At some point, we all learn how, and while it’s difficult at first, it eventually becomes second nature. Our Christian lives are lived out in the same fashion. Every day, we get up and put one foot in front of the other. We don’t need to sprint to keep up with God; we just need to keep walking. Thankfully, we don’t do it alone; the Holy Spirit goes with us. In Galatians 5:25, Paul says, “If we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.”
Keeping in step with the Spirit is like my walk down the street with my son (minus the rushing). We keep our eyes on him, and match our steps with his. Every step of the Christian walk is lived with the awareness that he’s right there with us, leading, guiding, and protecting us on our way. While my son was unaware that his long legs outpaced mine, the Holy Spirit is intimately aware of our limitations, and he sets the pace. As we listen to his voice and obey, we are walking with him and not walking in the lusts of our flesh.
Do you want to learn more about what it means to walk in the Spirit? Here are 20 verses to start your study.
20 Bible Verses About Walking in the Spirit
- Zechariah 4:6 (ESV)
Then he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts. - John 4:24 (ESV)
God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” - Romans 6:12 (ESV)
Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. - Romans 8:4 (ESV)
In order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. - Romans 8:5 (ESV)
For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. - Romans 8:9 (ESV)
You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. - Romans 8:13 (ESV)
For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. - Romans 8:14 (ESV)
For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. - Romans 13:14 (ESV)
But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires. - 1 Corinthians 3:16 (ESV)
Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you? - Galatians 5:16 (ESV)
But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. - Galatians 5:22-23 (ESV)
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. - Galatians 5:25 (ESV)
If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. - Ephesians 2:10 (ESV)
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. - Ephesians 4:3 (ESV)
Eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. - Ephesians 5:2 (ESV)
And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. - Ephesians 5:8 (ESV)
For at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light - Ephesians 5:15-16 (ESV)
Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. - 1 John 2:6 (ESV)
Whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked. - 3 John 1:3-4 (ESV)
For I rejoiced greatly when the brothers came and testified to your truth, as indeed you are walking in the truth. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.
Why should we walk by the Spirit?
The Holy Spirit is intimately involved in every aspect of our Christian lives. He convicts us of sin (John 16:8), regenerates our hearts (John 3:5), unites us to Christ (1 Cor. 12:13), and justifies us before God (1 Cor. 6:11). The Spirit also indwells every believer (1 Cor. 6:19), makes us more holy (Rom. 8:13), and seals and secures our salvation (Eph 1:13-14).
Because he does all of this and so much more, when we walk with him, it keeps us from sinning. Before Paul told the Galatians to keep in step with the Spirit (Gal. 5:25), he reminded them that walking by the Spirit helps us not gratify the desires of the flesh (v. 16). And when we walk in the Spirit, we begin to bear his fruit—which is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, and self control (v. 22-23).
This is the Christian life. Walking with the Spirit, keeping in step with his leading, fighting sin, and bearing fruit. It’s not complicated. It’s being faithful one step at a time.
And don’t worry that you’ll fall behind. His pace is perfect.
Cara
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