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Lockstep

I never pledged a fraternity in college, but I’ve always been intrigued by the “Greek Stroll.” It’s amazing to watch those brothers and sisters follow their ace (the first of the line) and execute complex choreography in perfect harmony. The stroll is the culmination of hours of hard work, and more importantly, it is the representation of the group’s bonds of loyalty and unity. 

Similar to the Greek Stroll, Christians are called to follow our ace, Jesus Christ, and move in lockstep with him. But walking with God well requires intentionality and effort. So how can we do it? 

First, we must seek God. In Psalm 119, David meditates extensively on the wonders of the word of God. In the second section of that psalm, he focus on the power of the word to order one’s life in a manner pleasing to God. He uses seven different verbs to describe his commitment to God’s commands and decrees: seek, hide, recount, rejoice, meditate, consider, and delight. Are these verbs at work in our lives with God? Is following God or living righteously a chore for us, or do we delight in it and chase after it? The truth is that we stray from God when we stop seeking him. It’s not enough to avoid sin; we must actively pursue the will of God and apply the word of God. If we seek, we won’t stray. 

As we pursue God, we must also submit to him. Proverbs 3:5-6 instructs us not to lean to our own understanding but to trust in Yahweh and acknowledge him, knowing that “He will make your paths straight,” (v. 6). We all have our own plans and preferences, but do we recognize that our understanding is limited and that God truly does know best? Laying down our wills and submitting to the will of the Lord is key to a life that pleases God and makes a Kingdom impact. 

Finally, if we will keep in lockstep with God, we must walk in the Spirit. The apostle Paul lets us know that we already live in and by the Holy Spirit. We are only God’s people because God’s Spirit has taken residence in us. So what should be our response to life in the Spirit? We only need to follow the Spirit’s lead: “Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit,” (Gal. 5:25). If you’re curious to see what it looks like to walk in the Spirit, take a look at Galatians 5:22-23! 

Just like those fraternities and sororities, we’re going to have to put in major work if we’re going to master our movements. But we have the best choreographer in the world, the One who hovered over the waters at creation (Genesis 1:2). If we seek God, submit to him, and walk in his Spirit, we’ll find ourselves in lockstep.

Listen to the song wherever you find music!