The Bee Gees are playing in the background, “Well, you can tell by the way I use my walk/I’m a woman’s man, no time to talk.”
“Use my walk…. hmmm.” That little phrase gives me pause. Clearly, Mr. Gibb is using his walk to portray to both men and women that he’s a ladies’ man and doesn’t have any time to talk. He doesn’t want a conversation; he wants something else, apparently. His walk is with purpose. It and his “crazy cool medallions” are being used to communicate. His walk tells us something about him. It has a purpose.
The Bible also speaks of walking with purpose. Though it’s less about wearing bell bottoms and strutting like a peacock. How should we “use our walk” according to Scripture?
Photo Credit: Image created using DALL.E 2024 AI technology and subsequently edited and reviewed by our editorial team.
1. What Does the Bible Say about Our Purpose in Life?
There is primarily one Greek word, περιπατέω, that is translated walk or walking. Peripateo can refer to physical walking, like “Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee” (Mt. 4:18), or it can refer to metaphorical walking, like “walk in the way of love…” (Eph. 5:2). The term denotes both physical movement and ethical/moral conduct. This is not unique to the Bible; the Hellenistic usage of the term often describes a manner of living or lifestyle.
In Hebrew, there are two words for walk (הָלַךְ and דֶּרֶךְ). Halak is the verb and describes the action of walking—but it can also be used metaphorically (as it does in Micah 6:8). Derekh is a noun that might be better translated as “road,” “path,” or “journey.” It can denote a physical road or a metaphorical life journey. While halak emphasizes the action and behavior associated with walking, derekh focuses on the path or journey one takes in life. Together, they provide a comprehensive picture of living a life that aligns with God's will, highlighting both the steps we take and the direction we choose.
What are the 5 Main Themes of Life's Purpose in Scripture?
- Walking in Faith and Obedience. In these instances, our “walk” is a life of faith and obedience to God. This is how Genesis 5:24 describes Enoch and how Genesis 6:9 describes Noah.
- Walking in the Spirit. Walking in the Spirit is the means by which we live out the Christian life. In Galatians 5:16, Paul contrasts “walking by the Spirit” with “walking in the flesh.” He says something similar in Romans 8:4. Our lives are to be directed by the Spirit.
- Walking in Love. This is the fundamental command for Christians and reflects the way in which Jesus lived. Ephesians 5:2 explicitly says that we are to “walk in the way of love” and then compares it to the self-giving way in which Jesus lived and died. 2 John 1:6 also tells us to walk in love.
- Walking in Light. This symbolizes walking in truth, purity, and holiness. It means to walk in the light of who God is and who God has revealed Himself to be. It has an ethical dimension, too. Sin is the realm of darkness. We are to walk in the light. It also means to walk in reality instead of falsehood. 1 John 1:7 tells us that it is by walking in the light that we have fellowship with God and other believers.
- Walking in Wisdom. To walk in wisdom is to walk in a way that is thoughtful and honoring to God. It is to pattern your life after the reality that God has revealed. Both Ephesians and Colossians speak of walking wise in the midst of evil days/people. Proverbs also outlines what it means to pattern your life after the way of wisdom.
Your walk, then, is the pattern of your lifestyle. Now, let’s consider what the Bible says about purpose.
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2. What Does the Bible Mean by "Purpose?"
The word purpose likely did not have quite the psychologically loaded meaning that it has for us today. Still, there is much to be said about not wandering or being tossed to and fro. The Bible does speak about intentionality, planning, and setting forth a purpose.
There are two words in Hebrew that are often translated as purpose (or something similar). The Hebrew word מַחֲשָׁבָה (Machashabah) generally refers to thoughts, plans, or intentions. It’s what you see in Jeremiah 29:11 when God speaks of the “plans” that he has for his exiled people. This word refers to the more focused and internal thoughts that someone would have. It’s imagining a future and devising a plan. The word עֵצָה (‘Etsah) is a bit more relational and advisory. This might be seeking counsel and strategic planning. In Isaiah 46:10, God says that His ’etsah will stand.
In Greek, we have the words πρόθεσις (Prothesis) and βουλή (Boulē). Prothesis typically refers to God’s preordained plan. It emphasizes that God has laid out the plan well in advance of an action taking place. This is the word used in Romans 8:28 and Ephesians 1:11. Boulē is similar and, in fact, also makes an appearance in Ephesians 1:11,
"In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose (prothesis) of him who works all things according to the counsel (boulē) of his will."
This word can be used of the divine decision making or the human process. Think of prothesis like a blueprint and boulē as all of the thoughtful and purposeful decision making that is in the background of making that blueprint.
When the Bible talks about purpose, it is usually about God’s purpose. God is purposeful in creation (Psalm 139:13-16), and He is purposeful in the new creation (Romans 8:28). God has a purpose in calling us (2 Timothy 1:9), and every action is leading us to the fulfillment of God’s eternal purpose that we see come to fruition in Revelation 21. We are called to live according to God’s purpose.
If we combine these two concepts, we can now consider what it means, according to Scripture, to walk with purpose.
Photo Credit: Image created using DALL.E 2024 AI technology and subsequently edited and reviewed by our editorial team.
3. What Does it Mean to Walk with Purpose?
To walk with purpose means to live a life that reflects a deliberate alignment with God’s intention for the world. One of my favorite summaries comes from John Piper. Piper says God’s great purpose for the world is to fill it with his glory by rooting out of his kingdom all sin and unbelief and filling it with white-hot worshippers from every people's tongue, tribe, and nation. In the seed of Abraham, all families on earth will be blessed. All the families of the nations will worship before the Lord. Or, if you like a simple statement, he also says,
“Our purpose is to live in such a way as to make the surpassing worth of God in Christ look like what it really is.”
To walk according to purpose, then, is to align our lives with this grand purpose. This means that we will live intentionally, making deliberate choices that reflect what God is doing in the world. If God is about making worshippers, this means we will be focused on our own worship and on bringing others into a worshipful relationship with Christ. Walking with purpose means walking with action.
It should also be mentioned that this is a transformational journey. For one, we are not by nature aligned with God’s will. We are rebels. Even after being redeemed, our old way of living is contrary to walking according to the Spirit. The flesh still rises up. We’re constantly having to crucify self and align ourselves with God’s purpose for us. We also are consistently growing in our understanding of God’s will. We are being transformed, and we are being used by God to transform the world. That’s a process.
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4. Why Does it Matter to Walk with Purpose?
It matters that we walk with purpose because the old saying is true—we never drift into holiness. Without intention and purpose, we will be drifters, tossed to and fro by every wind and wave. Part of what it means to die daily is to be like Christ in the Garden, who said, “Not my will, but your will be done.” To walk with purpose means to believe the gospel and apply its riches to our lives on a daily basis. God’s purpose for us is that we’d be gospel people.
God will accomplish His purpose. He will not be thwarted. That makes it a no-brainer to want to align ourselves with Him. He’s going to be victorious. And if He is rooting out all sin and unbelief from His kingdom, why would I want to be marked by sin and unbelief? Walking with purpose matters because God’s glory matters.
But it also matters because people matter. When we walk with purpose, we will be able to impact others positively. Letting our light shine before men is part of what God has renewed us for. His purpose of redemption is not solely for us—it’s also for others. It’s so that as we are restored to our high calling of rest, rule, and relationship, we will also draw others into this blessing.
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5. How Do We Walk with Purpose?
I don’t mean to be overly simplistic, but the answer to this question is simple: Know God’s will and do it.
Of course, living that out practically is difficult. How do we know God’s will? We know God’s purpose by reading Scripture. In Christ, we have everything we need for life and godliness. God has given us what we need to know God’s will.
Thankfully, He has also empowered believers with His Spirit. As such, we are also able to do God’s will. Yes, we are not entirely redeemed—we’re not in heaven yet--which means that we will struggle with both knowing God’s will and doing it. But the Spirit’s work in our life means that there are many times when we will succeed through His power that is working within us.
And lastly, and fundamentally, we walk with purpose by knowing Christ. This is God’s great plan for the world. The cornerstone of God’s will is that we would know Christ. If you do not know Jesus, then the first thing for you to do is to cry out in repentance and belief. God does have a plan for you and for your life. You were created with purpose and intention. The first way to align yourself to God’s will for your life is to surrender to Christ. Until this happens, nothing else will be along the path of purpose.
Photo Credit: ©Pexels/Katii Bishop
Originally published Friday, 21 June 2024.