Walking the Walk // 1 Corinthians 4:5

You know when you read a verse for the umpteenth time and it finally hits as though it’s the first time? I had one of those experiences when I read today’s verse from 1 Corinthians 4:5. The Apostle Paul was working to get people in his baby churches to ensure their primary connection to the faith was Jesus and not a person. People were comparing and competing with each other based on the church they attended or the identity of the apostle who helped plant their individual faith community. Paul cautioned people from elevating any human above of Christ. He then went on to imply that everyone has things for which they could be judged — and as as result — dismissed, discounted, and discredited.

The instruction we read to not “make a judgment about anyone ahead of time” is so apropos, isn’t it? We fail so greatly at this. It’s been said that we judge ourselves based on our best intentions and others based on their worst actions. I know I’m guilty. Are you? So what are we to do?

Trust God. I used the image of a toddler walking for the background of today scripture graphic for a reason. Think about the toddlers you’ve watched take early steps. Then think about the thousands of steps you take every day. Would you judge your ability to walk today based on how you walked when you were just cruising around the furniture in your own home? No. So why in tarnation do we do this in so many other aspects of life?

A faith life is frequently referred to as a walk. That is such a good way to think about it. Our early steps can be hard, but we are cheered by those who love us most. Within a relatively short period of time the gait of that early walk is exceeded and the expectation changes. We need to grow, to walk straighter, longer, and on purpose. There will still be many stumbles along the way. Toes get stubbed. Heads get bumped. Bruises appear everywhere. But that’s how we learn. If you were to judge your ability to walk today based on some of those early steps, you never would leave your stroller.

So what are we to do? Again, trust God. Every single one of us is on a different step in our journey. Trust God that the steps you take are in cadence with Him. Encourage others to do the same. But for crying out loud, don’t judge someone’s walk based on the grace they exhibit as they do. No, entrust the walk to the amazing grace of God! After all, God knows our motives, our attempts, the contexts of our failures, and the exertion required to achieve our victories, no matter how minimal they might seem to another or how many steps it took to get there.