Even If i Walk Alone

Instructing and encouraging you to live your life as a disciple of Jesus

Don’t Waver

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The Christian life is hard. In the best-case scenario, people will ridicule and ostracize you from social groups. (Matthew 5:10-12; 1 Peter 4:4) You will always be an outsider. (John 15:18-19; 1 Peter 2:11) Worst-case scenarios involve torture and death in gruesome manners. (Matthew 24:9; Hebrews 11:35-38) Following Jesus is not for the squeamish or fainthearted. Being a Christian isn’t for everyone. It is only for those who see Jesus as being worth any sacrifice and worthy of every kind of mockery and torture. (Luke 14:26-33; Philippians 3:7-8)

We are the few and the called, but that’s not something to be proud of. We did nothing to earn this privilege. (Ephesians 2:8-9; 2 Timothy 1:9) It is only by God’s grace that we are called to this life of service and sacrifice and ultimately to immense joy and life everlasting. (1 Peter 5:10; Titus 3:6-7) If you want to live for Jesus, take up your cross and don’t waver. (Luke 9:23-24; 1 Corinthians 15:58)

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Busy Until He Comes

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What are we doing with our lives? What are we pursuing during the short time we live in these bodies? Perhaps even more telling, does what you are doing look any different from what your unsaved friends and neighbors are doing? It’s easy, and even expected, to get caught up within the cultures in which we live. After all, we don’t want to be those “weird people” down the street, do we?

But shouldn’t we be those very peculiar people? Peter tells us we are called to be different; called to stand out. (1 Peter 2:9; 1 Peter 1:14-16) We can’t do that if we waste all our time fitting in with everyone else and pretending we aren’t living on borrowed time. If we want to live the life Jesus commands us to, we need to be busy until He comes, making preparations for that day.

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Turn Our Eyes

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There are many beautiful things we can look at in this life. There are countless ventures we can endeavor to do. But not everything is profitable for us. (1 Corinthians 6:12; 1 Corinthians 10:23) Nothing on earth is worth longing for, because everything on earth will pass away. (1 John 2:17; 2 Peter 3:10-12) No amount of temporal happiness or pleasure is worth sacrificing the riches of eternity. (Mark 8:36-37; 2 Corinthians 4:17-18)

Like the Psalmist, we need to plead with God to turn our eyes from looking at what is worthless. (Psalm 119:37) Our gaze should ever and only be on things above, and not here on earth. (Colossians 3:1-2) Jesus is the priceless prize worth more than everything in this world combined. (Philippians 3:7-8; Matthew 13:44-46) He alone is worth desiring, and He alone is worth your life. (Psalm 73:25-26; Philippians 1:21)

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Called to This

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There is an uncomfortable truth that is not discussed enough from our pulpits or in our conversations. Being a follower of Christ means we are going to suffer. We know it’s true because we are called to this. (1 Peter 2:21; Philippians 1:29-30) Depending on what country you live in, and for some, even in what part of your country, you will face different degrees of persecution.

But all Christians will suffer for the sake of Christ because the gospel is offensive to those who refuse to bow to the Lordship of Jesus. (1 Corinthians 1:18; 1 Peter 2:7-8) He promised us this would happen, and if it’s not happening to you yet, then it will in the days to come. (John 15:18-20; 2 Timothy 3:12) We need to be ready. (1 Peter 4:12-13; 1 Peter 3:14-15)

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All Time is God’s Time

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I hate being interrupted. And by hate, I mean HATE. Few things set my teeth more on edge than having what I’m doing preempted by a phone call or an uninvited guest. It’s not just when I’m writing, but true in all aspects of my life. When I am engaging in any activity, I’m all in and don’t want to think about anything else until I’m done.

Having shared my home with 14 Shetland Sheepdogs over my life, my wife swears I am part Sheltie. The breed is task-oriented to maniacal extremes. Perhaps she’s right. More probable is the fact that I’m just selfish. It would serve me much better to remember that all time is God’s time.

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