“I URGE YOU TO WALK “

When Jesus meets Matthew at the Tax booth, he offered him two words ‘follow me’. Those words were beyond the instruction Matthew received, he had been nudged to take action. The discussion ensues where ‘He arose and followed’. (Matthew 9:9-10). That text could be placed alongside the words of Saint Paul to the church in Ephesus: I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech (urge) you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called(Ephesians  4:1)

The best Paul could do was to light a fire, provide the urge and the encouragement. His audience had to do the walking themselves. That is the ‘doing or working out’ dimension of faith, the dimension that requires anyone on the receiving end to consciously decide to act. You may hear a heap of sweet encouragement, mountains of calls to action – whether calls to change bad habits, adopt alternative mindsets or build better relationships. These will remain as words until that call is acted upon.

I know there are times when we want to make choices for others because we may sincerely know better. But on many occasions, all we can simply do is to urge and nudge along certain paths. The choice to walk any path though, remains each person’s to make.

#sly