Even If i Walk Alone

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

Archives for June 2020

Hard Truths

by

Many people leave the Church and their faith behind because they no longer agree with the Church’s stance on hot button topics of the age or even long-held teachings that seem antiquated to their itching ears. People leave the truth because they expected it to be easy. They wanted to belong to something. This is not a new phenomenon. Jesus gave a teaching one day that caused his followers to abandon him in droves (John 6:53-68).

hard truths,commitment,discipleship,determination,passion,mission,Matthew 5:11-12,Beatitudes,John 6:53-68,many turned back,Matthew 19:23-26,rich young ruler,John 16:33,in this world you will have trouble

When He taught about giving away all you had to follow Him, His disciples remarked how difficult the teaching was and wondered who could receive it (Matthew 19:23-26). The teachings of Jesus are difficult. They are hard truths because many are called but few are chosen. Few will endure the cost of discipleship.

[Read more…] about Hard Truths

Persecuted

by

I pray daily for our brothers and sisters around the world who are being persecuted for their faith. It is both devastating and humbling to read what they are going through because of their commitment to Jesus. In many countries, becoming a follower of Christ will lead to job loss, inability to rent or buy housing, harassment and beatings from friends and family, and often imprisonment or death. For many believers, this is the harsh reality of their lives.

persecuted,church,priorities,passion,commitment,faith,fear,COVID-19,coronavirus,freedom

Some stories are unimaginable to those of us who sit safely ensconced in our comfortable homes, living in a freedom unmatched in history. The bravery and courage of our persecuted brothers and sisters should compel us all to lift their needs in prayer often. Those who are out of sight must never be out of mind.

[Read more…] about Persecuted

Following Jesus

by

We find one of the hardest teachings of Jesus in Luke, chapter fourteen, verses 26- 33. I’ve rarely heard messages preached from this passage, at least not without several caveats and attempts to water down what Jesus was saying. I think we are on dangerous ground any time we try to soften or redefine the words of Jesus. Jesus was the most intentional person who ever lived. He meant what He said every time. One way we know this is because when Jesus gave a hard teaching such as the one in John 6:53-58, we learn a few verses later that many turned away from following Him.

following Jesus,surrender,priorities,discipleship,disciple,surrendering everything,John 6:53-58,eat my flesh,Luke 14:26-33,take up your cross

Jesus didn’t soften His message or try to say what He had said another way to win them back. No, He meant what He said, and He allowed the people to accept the teaching and follow Him or to walk away. He wanted everyone to trust in Him, but not at the cost of compromising His Word.

[Read more…] about Following Jesus

The Problem of Evil

by

My heart broke this past week when the lead singer of a popular Christian band renounced his faith in Jesus in a very public way. What broke my heart was not the damage this might do to the faith of those over whom he has influence, although that is troublesome. It didn’t break my heart the way the media latched onto the story and the damage something like this inflicts on the Church, although this too is cause for prayer.

problem of evil,sin,free will,love,faithchurch,1 John 1:5-7,God is light,Matthew 16:18,gates of hell will not prevail,Romans 8:22,earth is groaning

The Church will survive. The gates of Hell will not prevail against us, no matter how unexpected the attack (Matthew 16:18). What broke my heart were the reasons this individual gave for no longer believing.  There are straightforward answers to his questions, and yet somehow, no one in this man’s life could counsel him with the truth.

[Read more…] about The Problem of Evil