Stepping in the Light
Words: Eliza Edmunds Hewitt (b. June 28, 1851; d. April 24, 1920)
Music: William James Kirkpatrick (b. Feb. 27, 1838; d. Sept. 20, 1921)
Note: You may find this hymn, in an older book, credited to Lidie H. Edmunds. This appears to have been a pen name the author sometimes used. See the links below to learn more about this servant of Christ.
(1) Trying to walk in the steps of the Saviour,
Trying to follow our Saviour and king;
Shaping our lives by His blessèd example,
Happy, how happy, the songs that we bring.
How beautiful to walk in the steps of the Saviour,
Stepping in the light, stepping in the light,
How beautiful to walk in the steps of the Saviour,
Led in paths of light.
(Stanza numbers in brackets below refer to the stanza number in The Cyber Hymnal. Find the link at the bottom of the article.)
I can remember a couple of times in my life that I had problems with the dark. On one occasion, I had to cross a wobbly plank over a pool of water in order to get where I needed to go. I had no flashlight, and the moon was hidden behind clouds. I made it, but not without a lot of stress! Another time, I walked where I shouldn’t have in the dark, and fell down a ten or fifteen-foot embankment. I wasn’t hurt, but it was quite terrifying.
When the Bible describes the spiritual condition of this world, and of the unsaved, it uses the imagery of darkness.
“In Him [Christ] was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it [or overpower it]” (Jn. 1:4-5).
“This is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed” (Jn. 3:19-20)
And light, on the other hand, is used as a symbol of purity and holiness. When the individual is saved he or she is brought into the light.
“You were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light….And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them” (Eph. 5:8, 11).
“The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light” (Rom. 13:12).
We are to walk in the light, living out the life of Christ, a life of righteousness and true holiness, in the power of the Holy Spirit. As He lived in the light, so should we. And so we will know what that means, we are equipped with the light of God’s Word.
“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path….The entrance of Your words gives light; It gives understanding to the simple” (Ps. 119:105, 130).
“This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all….If we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us [i.e. continues to cleanse us] from all sin” (I Jn. 1:5, 7).
In (4), “the King in His beauty” is in quotation marks as it is taken from Isaiah 33:17. When we go to be with the Lord Jesus Christ, or when He returns to reign as King of kings and Lord of lords, “[Our] eyes will see the King in His beauty.”
(2) Pressing more closely to Him who is leading,
When we are tempted to turn from the way;
Trusting the arm that is strong to defend us,
Happy, how happy, our praises each day.
(4) Trying to walk in the steps of the Saviour,
Upward, still upward, we follow our Guide;
When we shall see Him, “the King in His beauty,”
Happy, how happy, our place at His side.
Questions:
- What is the most difficult thing about walking, consistently, in spiritual light?
- What are some of the blessed results of walking in the light?
Links:
- 24 April 1920 Eliza Hewitt Died
- Stepping in the Light (The Cyber Hymnal)