Sit. Walk. Stand.

I wish I were smart enough to come up with this title and concept, but Watchman Nee did first, and he wrote a great, short book with this same title.

Sit. Walk. Stand. This is the picture of the Christian life. It is also the picture and progress the Apostle Paul lays out in the letter to the Ephesians. Have you considered this progression?

I encourage you to read, slowly, through the entire letter to the Ephesians in one setting. It is only six chapters long. After you read it, reread it. This letter demonstrates how grace is given through the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This is also a letter to encourage the believers to live the life they were called to live in Christ.

Quick side note on the Bible, especially the New Testament: Take this time to open your Bible and look at the New Testament (toward the back of the Bible) and quickly scan the introduction to the letters, beginning with Romans. You will see something to the effect of “To God’s people…the elect…holy…saints.” These are essential words to notice because they were written to people who believed in Jesus Christ. In other words, those Paul is calling “holy,” “saints,” are the ones who have changed their life direction and life for Jesus Christ.

Why do I bring this up? We should understand these were written to believers, not those outside the church. Paul is speaking to the ones who follow Jesus about what the Christian life looks like and how they should live in the world. In other words, Paul is not addressing non-believers. He is speaking to the followers of Jesus. This means non-followers of Jesus would not have these same instructions.

So, this brings up the question, why would we be surprised when the world (non-followers of Jesus) does not act like Jesus, or as Christ calls his people to live?

See, this is the beauty of Christianity. Our lives are transformed by trusting in and following Jesus Christ. We get to show the world what it means to follow God and build his kingdom. How can we do this?

Back to Ephesians.

Sit. Walk. Stand. This is the outline we will be following here.

Sit

Ephesians opens and begins to walk through what it means to receive the grace God is offering through Jesus Christ. This grace is free; we cannot earn it. We trust Jesus to be who he says he is.

Now, throughout the scriptures, we see God telling people to “go,” but we also see God telling his people to “stay” and rest.” 

I will be candid. I don’t always like to be still. Waiting is challenging for me. I don’t want to feel as if I am not being productive. I like to accomplish and finish tasks. But, sometimes, we need to not worry about “doing;” we should be more concerned with “being.”

What would it look like to be still and thank God for making you his child? How would your day change if you took the time to realize how much love God has for you?

That’s what Paul tries to get across in the first few chapters of Ephesians. He is trying to get the believers at Ephesus to trust and know God, his grace, and his love and receive the incredible blessings he has for his children.

In the past few years, I have learned how vital just “being” is to the Christian life. Before we do anything, we need to receive the gifts, grace, blessing, and life God has in store through Jesus Christ.

I have learned this so deeply that I wrote a devotional book on making decisions. The premise is to seek God for who we are called to be and trust God is moving in your life. You can find the details here: https://revryanstratton.com/ryan-strattons-books/

Walk

Once we take the time to know 1) who we are and 2) who we belong to, we can begin to live the kind of life the rest of the world will pay attention to. This life is lived out through the grace God offers. This kind of life will show the world what it means to live like Jesus today. As we live like Jesus, we will find the things and ways of living we need to eliminate (anger, slander, malice, etc.).

What do you think? Is the kind of life Paul writes about in Ephesians 4-the beginning of 6 something you can easily do? Something that you’re willing to do?

Have you ever considered why living this kind of life is challenging?

Yes, there are influences in the world that will try to distract us. But, I have also learned that most people do not escape the Jr. High/Middle School mentality of peer pressure.

That may sting, but how often have you found yourself acting a certain way because of the kinds of people you were around? It is uncomfortable to act a different way than your friends or family. Why? Because we all want to feel as if we belong.

But, Paul is speaking about being the example, the “light in the darkness, to a world that needs to see and experience grace. This is why we need to spend the time to “sit.” At the core of who we are, we need to know God’s incredible love and grace through Jesus Christ. We need to know that God is with us and giving us even more than we can ask or imagine.

Stand

Now, Paul is telling the believers not to worry about the enemy. He tells them to “stand firm.” Paul is encouraging Jesus’s followers not to deviate from their faith and to stand on the truth and person of Jesus Christ. When you do not deviate from the foundation of Jesus Christ, you are able to handle the attacks. And the attacks will come.

You may not experience a physical attack, but the “flaming arrows” will come. You will be attacked from a distance. So, use the defense system God gives you to withstand anything that comes your way.

It could be an illness, financial troubles, something breaking down, or a bunch of “little things” going wrong. All of this is to get your eyes off of Jesus. But Paul says to “stand firm” and keep your focus on Jesus. Even in the midst of spiritual warfare, stay focused on Jesus and worship him and him alone. It is when we keep our focus on Jesus we can trust and live into the victory he has already secured. (Look at the end of the Bible.)

When we have spent time worshipping (sit), then we can see how we can trust Jesus in our daily life (walk) even when attacks come (stand). Worship is the key. Without this time to worship and receive the presence of God, then we will not be able to handle life as we should.

I realize this is a very quick snapshot for the letter to the Ephesians, but this should help you understand the letter, and the Christian life, more clearly. I would also love to hear what the Holy Spirit speaks to you as you read through this letter.

I pray you find time to sit and rest in the presence of God. Receive his incredible blessings. Learn to live into the love God has for you. Then, live your life, and walk as a follower of Jesus Christ in a world trying to get you to be like everyone else. Keep your focus on Jesus, stand, and watch how he keeps you in a place of victory because he is the glorious victor.

May you sit at Christ’s feet and live into the identity of his son/daughter.

May you receive his blessings and hear his call on your life.

May you walk as a child of light expelling darkness wherever your feet step.

And may you stand firm in the truth of Christ and go forward in life. Knowing the victorious Christ is with you today and always.