This is the account of Noah. Noah was a godly man; he was blameless among his contemporaries. He walked with God.
Into the Text
Even in the company of evil men, we see a surprising statement. Noah remained obedient. The Bible says that bad company corrupts good morals (1 Corinthians 15:33). All Noah had was bad company, yet Noah was blameless. How is this possible? Genesis 6:9 tells us, “He walked with God.”
The Hebrew word for “to walk” describes the action of walking, but it can also mean fellowship and a right relationship with God. It’s more than just the physical activity of stepping side by side with someone. Walking with God is personal, comfortable, intimate, and vulnerable.
To walk with God is to lay our hearts bare and share our fears, hopes, and dreams. It’s also to regret our wrong actions, confess our sins, and repent. In Galatians 5, Paul talks about “walking in the Spirit,” which means living by the power and under the guidance of the Holy Spirit within us. It involves submitting to God’s will, as it says that those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
This walk is characterized by the fruit of the Spirit, which is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. When we walk closely with God, the Spirit works in us to make us more into the image of Christ. There is a difference in our personhood. It started with surrendered obedience.
Prayer
God, I want to walk with you and know you. Help me to be completely vulnerable and honest with you. Holy Spirit, be at work in me to make me more like Christ and bearing your fruit. Teach me how to walk in surrendered obedience. Amen.