Wednesday Bible Blurb “Learning to Walk Again” 1 22 2025
Baby Steps I
The little 15-month-old boy was trying so hard to walk. He stood there and you could see in his tiny infant eyes the desire to take a step into the new world of walking. The mom was reaching out her hands in encouragement, calling for the little guy to come to her. Holding onto the table he took one step forward, let go of the table and fell flat on his face. The mom reached over, picked the crying boy up and started to encourage him once again. This time he took two steps before falling back down to his knees and crawling to his mommy. Try and try again until weeks later he simply walked across the room and celebrated as if he had won the Boston Marathon. He was walking.
Life for the Christian is much like an infant learning to walk. Solomon says, “For a righteous man may fall seven time and rise again, but the wicked shall fall by calamity.” (Pro. 24:16 [NKJV]). How many times do we fall as we learn to walk the walk of our Christian life? Abraham told Pharoah that Sarah was his sister. Moses struck the rock. David committed adultery with Bathsheba and had Uriah the Hittite killed. Peter forsook Jesus and denied him three times. Paul and Barnabas argued so severely that they split company. Peter so offended the gentile converts in public that Paul had to correct him in public. We Christians are constantly learning to walk the walk and like the little boy learning to walk we fail at times. We will fall in our life, but we will rise again to follow Jesus.
Baby Steps II
As we progress through our Christian life, we go from baby spiritual steps to running the spiritual marathon. When God first calls us, we are as excited about Jesus as a young baby learning to walk. As new Christians we know so little about God but our every waking moment we are longing to learn and be like Him. Like Abraham, David and Peter, we fail at times. We are imperfect beings trying to follow our savior. All people sin and fall short of the glory of God (Rom. 3:23) but He died for us so that we might have life in Him. As newborn Christians we drink the milk of the word (Heb.5:12), stumble and fail knowing His love will save us. Our Christian baby steps lead us to running after Him. Paul, after all his trials and life as an apostle said, “I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the LORD, the righteous Judge will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.” (IITim.4:7-8). What a wonderfully encouraging statement from Paul for us today. Paul was in the race to stay. Paul had grown past the baby steps to spiritual maturity as a Christian. We are not to remain in our baby steps but to continue to “grow in His grace and knowledge.” (II Pet. 3:18).
God gives all of us who fail (all of us fail at times) a great and wonderful gift. “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” No matter how many times we stumble, Jesus will show us His grace through our faith in Him.
Recently, I had to learn how to walk again. I received a new right hip replacement. Amazingly, the very first thing one does after awaking from surgery is to be stood up and told to walk. The walker was in front of me, my hands were on the handles, and I really did not want to stand up and walk. The pain from the just completed surgery was surging through my leg and hip. No matter, the nurse was insistent that I stand up and take a few halting steps. I knew I had to do it. I knew it would be best for my health if I would just stand up and walk again. Reticent to stand, hurting severely with full doubt on my ability to walk, I stood up. I walked again. As newborn Christians we are learning to walk again, this time in Christ.
As Christians, we will stumble and fall. Do not be disheartened, rise and walk with Him again. Jude, a younger brother of Jesus says, “Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, to God our Savior, who alone is wise, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever. Amen.” (Jude 1:24-25). Rise up from our spiritual failures and walk with God again.
