"Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Go near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools, who do not know that they do wrong."
Ecclesiastes 5:1
As we close this section of the armor, I have been led to this verse from the Old Testament. Ecclesiastes is one of my favorite books, and I have done extensive study in it, but not until this morning did I see the relation to Ephesians, with respect to this specific passage and portion of Paul's epistle.
We have covered how we are to walk along the path that is laid before us, and we have discussed how we are to accept that path and move forward in faith. We have talked about how important our feet are in getting us to the places where we can "walk" as living a witness and testament to the grace bestowed upon us. But to close this segment, I feel it necessary to point out that when we approach the Throne, we should remember that we are walking into the presence of God, and act accordingly.
Granted, this is from the Old Testament, and we live in times of the New Testament, covered by grace and blessed to not have to worry with entry to a specific tent on only one day of the year. However, just because we can directly approach the Throne does not give us permission to do so without reverance. And if we walk fitted with the gospel of Christ, we will walk with guarded steps and approach in awe, ready to commune and pray and worship and give thanks and offer supplication with the proper heart attitude. Further, if fitted properly, we would be ready to hear what God has to say, rather than always going in to speak.
Otherwise, as Solomon points out to us, we would go in only seeking favors and favor from the Lord, and not realize the burdens we must confess before we ask. We would miss the greatest part of our communion with God, which is hearing Him speak to our hearts... and all because we were too haughty to recognize that just because we are not required to go through the purification and sacrifice rituals any longer does not give us license to walk in and demand things and then leave. We MUST carry a sense of reverential awe about us as we approach the Lord God Most High, the Creator of all things, the One Who is insurmountable in every way, and no power was created that He did not allow. Never forget that!
And, to bring about a modern-day example, how we walk generally describes our mood and intentions, to some degree. Think about it for a second: the last time you stomped around somewhere, it probably wasn't because you were just thrilled to be there. You were probably mad, and over-exaggerating your steps to show it. And the last time you rushed through something, almost at a full sprint, it probably wasn't due to your intense focus and patience. And, if we're being honest, I'd bet you missed a step or a turn and forgot some key part of something that day, too. But when you approach in silence, with a healthy amount of reverential awe (fear of the Lord) and a heart willing to listen, you probably retain and gain much, much more!
Take time today to pray about your own approach. Be certain to monitor your gait and how it is seen, both my others and by yourself. Focus on controlling that speed and timbre, and be certain that your steps are guarded in all things you do. Then take a moment to encourage someone you know... just one person today... to do the exact same thing, and honor the Lord in doing so!
God bless you all!!!
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