Walking with the Lord is not a group of boxes to check off and by their completion somehow attain some level of greater standing. As God’s chosen, it is so easy to want to do that. We would rather find a way to live a checklist form of religion that proves we are good enough to run with God and His people. Our alternative is to live a life that is devoid of God’s influence and simply do whatever we want.
Ephesians 5 sets up a lifestyle that is separate from the lifestyle encouraged by the culture of the times when Paul wrote the Letter and certainly not consistent with the times in which the church currently lives. Ephesians 5:1 says it best. “Be imitators of God and Walk in Love.” Satan has spent his entire career trying to deceive people into “becoming Like God”.
In truth, Satan wants to overthrow God and His kingdom. So he does all He can to cause God’s chosen to turn from being imitators of God and attempt to become their own gods. His two favorite games are to make us ultra religious or to make us ultra worldly.
Paul attempts to clarify the issue by setting out the goal–being an imitator of God. Do not try to become the God of your own journey by acting and doing like the world acts. The world is filled with folks that are the center of their own universe and they worship themselves and regard themselves over all others–they become their own idols.
Paul tells us as God’s chosen people to walk a life that is not self-focused, but others and God focused. We are to love folks, hate sin, and be filled with the Spirit of God; allowing the Spirit to guide and comfort us. Then, as we are led, we are prepared for living eternally in God’s presence.
Walking with God simply looks different than walking apart from Him. There is no other or better means for walking with God than allowing the Spirit to be in control.
God Bless You
Ephesians 5
jTherefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. 2 And kwalk in love, las Christ loved us and mgave himself up for us, a nfragrant ooffering and sacrifice to God.
3 But psexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness qmust not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. 4 Let there be rno filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, swhich are out of place, but instead tlet there be thanksgiving. 5 For you may be sure of this, that ueveryone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (vthat is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. 6 wLet no one xdeceive you with empty words, for because of these things ythe wrath of God comes upon zthe sons of disobedience. 7 Therefore ado not become partners with them; 8 for bat one time you were cdarkness, but now you are light in the Lord. dWalk as children of light 9 (for ethe fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), 10 and ftry to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. 11 gTake no part in the hunfruitful iworks of darkness, but instead jexpose them. 12 For kit is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. 13 But when lanything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, 14 for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says,
m“Awake, O sleeper,
and narise from the dead,
and oChrist will shine on you.”
15 pLook carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, 16 pmaking the best use of the time, because qthe days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what rthe will of the Lord is. 18 And sdo not get drunk with wine, for that is tdebauchery, but ube filled with the Spirit, 19 addressing one another in vpsalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, 20 wgiving thanks always and for everything to God the Father xin the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
Walking With God 