“BY THIS WE may be sure that we are in him: he who says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked” (1 John 2:5–6). We turn to 1 John in which the phrase “in Christ,” or its equivalent, is found twenty times. The word “this” is found twenty-six times; so there is a “thisness” about being in Christ. It is all tied very closely to life. It is not a doctrine, but a doing.
This verse puts the two together: “By this . . . in him.” The one thing that brings surety that we are in Him is that we “walk in the same way in which he walked.” To walk as He walked is to live as He lived. Can we live as He lived? In the same circumstances? No. On the same principles? Yes. We can apply His principles to our circumstances.
He met life as a man, calling on no power for his own moral battle not at your disposal or mine. He expected His Father to give Him power to meet whatever came and to use it for higher purposes. He expected no favored treatment and got none. We can apply that principle: meet life as it comes and make something out of it.
He kept up His disciplines of reading the Word of God and praying. “As his custom was . . . he stood up to read” (Luke 4:16). He went out into the mountains to pray as His custom was (see Luke 22:39). We can apply that principle: have a disciplined life of praying and reading of the Word.
He gave out what He found. “As his custom was, he taught them” (Mark 10:1). We can apply this principle: share with others what you have found from God.
He gave out love and only love to everybody—to enemies as well as friends. We can apply that principle: love everybody, even enemies.
He made a full surrender to God: “not my will, but thine, be done” (Luke 22:42). We can apply that principle: a full surrender of the will.
“He set his face [steadfastly] to go to Jerusalem” (Luke 9:51). Applied: face everything, even the hardest, with God.
Dear Son of Man, in Thee who strengthens me, I am able for anything. I can only walk in Thy ways as I live in Thy life. I can do the impossible—with Thee. So drawing heavily on Thee, I walk Thy ways with joy. Amen.
AFFIRMATION FOR THE DAY: I will walk in His ways with His power.
