Walking, Listening, and Talking with Jesus

WALKING, LISTENING AND TALKING

       Remember a time when you were walking and chatting with a friend in a pleasant quiet place where the world’s noise did not invade.  Remember the companionship you felt.  Hopefully you can, if not please try it – a nature setting will help.

       That kind of positive feeling would be similar to what the disciples felt during the years they walked with Jesus as He journeyed through Israel.  Imagine leaving all our world’s noise and cares behind while walking, listening and talking with our saviour, Jesus Christ.

       Perhaps it would be like Nathanael when he first met Jesus.  After speaking a bit Nathanael exclaimed “Rabbi, You are the Son of God!  You are the King of Israel!” (John 1:49 NKJV).  

       Sometimes there will be no chance to walk, only a quiet place to talk; like the woman at the well in John 4.  But when you honestly talk with Jesus; quietly or loudly, be yourself – He understands, even if anger and accusations Christ knows our situation and He cares.  The Son of God will help you find the real problem, get past it and guide you to a better place.  Talking with Jesus is walking with Him as you listen and seek His input into your life.

       Walking with Jesus wasn’t always easy in old Israel; many roads and paths were rough in His day, filled with sand, rocks and those aggravating little pebbles that get in your sandals.  Road graders did not exist, all they had to wear were sandals – no socks or cushioned shoes.  There were no grocery stores, just boisterous markets in the towns and cities.  Jesus’ disciples would sometimes have to forge for themselves or walk to the nearest town that had a market.  This may have been a consideration when God supplied the heavenly multiplication of bread loaves and fish.  It wasn’t always easy to find food, but there are no reports of those who followed Jesus ever going hungry or lacking any necessity of life.  They were walking with the Son of our Creator and Sustainer of all life.

       Walking with Jesus would be physically demanding in ways we rarely experience, but people willingly gave up all they had; property, livelihood and whatever life they were living, just to be with Jesus.  That’s dedication and it’s still happening today.

       Consider folks who go on mission trips or give everything they can to help others.  The very rich often create charities to provide money for people who need assistance.  It was a wealthy person who first started the idea of micro loans to people from poor countries so they could support their families by creating their own businesses.  That’s also walking with Jesus.  Anyone can, we’re all God’s children, it’s innate to the nature He gave us.  Two great benefits of this walk are the peace of mind and contentment that come upon you – the world has trouble providing these sensations, but it’s common when following the Son of God.

       When thoughts arise and you put money in a beggar’s cup, help an older person navigate a city street, silently pray for someone in pain, buy toys for poor children, or a similar loving action, you’re walking with Christ.  And the more you walk, the closer you walk.

     It helps to walk when you find a secluded spot in your garden, a tranquil nature setting or just a quiet place – enjoy a bible reading, prayer and contemplation where the world does not intrude; a place where you can walk, listen and talk with your Saviour, Brother and Friend.

     The Lenten season is a great time to begin a daily walk with Jesus; please keep on walking, listening, and talking.