Back to the Future: Walking With God

Happy New Year We are starting a mini-series of messages titled, “Back to the Future.” To fully experience the future God has in store, it is always positive to go back to review the basics. This principle is illustrated by Vince Lombardi, who was Head Coach of the Green Bay Packers. His opening words on the first day of training camp in July 1961 was his famous quote, “Gentlemen, this is a football.” The players thought they knew what they were doing and already had the basics mastered. The players were ready to pick up where they left off with fresh energy and resolve, but Lombardi had everyone review the basics of football: throwing, catching, blocking, and tackling. But Lombardi knew that to get to where you want to go in the future, you often have to go back and begin again as you strengthen your foundation and focus on what is important for the future bright with possibilities. The back-to-the-basics strategy paid off. In the next seven years, the Green Bay Packers won five NFL Championships. We can easily get off track when we think we are doing all the right things. The Bible in Micah 6:1-8 has a similar illustration of going back to review and embrace the basics to fully experience the future. God takes the people of Israel back to the basics of what God requires and desires. The basics in verse 8 are: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with our God. As we walk humbly with God, doing what is right and seeking love and mercy will follow us as we become more like God. Humbly walking with God means not to walk proudly, but to be wise, intentional, thoughtful, deliberate, attentive, and cautious according to the Will and Way of God. Essential elements of walking with God are known as the Six S’s: 1 Spiritual Retreat (to be done monthly/yearly); 2 Sabbath (to be done weekly), 3 Scripture (to be done daily), 4 Soul Friendship (to be done daily/weekly), 5 Statio (to be done event by event), and 6 Selah (to be done moment by moment). We engage and include God in our daily activities so that God can guide us, shape us, and form us into the glorious future God has planned for each of us.