Even If i Walk Alone

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

Daily Life

Pain and Darkness

by

One day we are all going to have to answer for the wasted opportunities and squandered blessings in our lives and of our generation. Each of us is aware of the moments we let slip by without seizing them for the glory of God’s Kingdom (Ephesians 5:15–16; Matthew 25:14–30). The memories are so painful we don’t often dwell on them, but we all know they are there in the deepest recesses of our minds.

This reminds me of when Jesus said He would cast all those who reject Him into the outer darkness (Matthew 22:13). That’s a darkness deeper than the blackest night any of us has ever experienced. Imagine combining such darkness with the pain of every regret, sorrow, and evil we have locked away in that deep closet in our minds. That is a small taste of what Hell will be like for all who don’t bow to Jesus as Lord. That pain and darkness will never end.

[Read more…] about Pain and Darkness

Strangers and Aliens

by

Those who exercise the boldness and courage to proclaim the truth of the Gospel will face many trials in this life (John 16:33). For those who follow Jesus, that is reason enough to reject anyone preaching a message promising health, wealth, and peace. Jesus dispels that belief when He declares He did not come to bring peace, but a sword (Matthew 10:34).

We are strangers and aliens on earth, foreigners in every context and location in which we find ourselves (1 Peter 2:11; Hebrews 11:13). This world is not where we belong, and those who do belong here will do everything they can to harm and get rid of us. Life on the narrow path is going to be difficult (Matthew 7:13–14) and we should believe no one who says otherwise (2 Timothy 3:12).

[Read more…] about Strangers and Aliens

Practicing the Gospel

by

There seems to be no end to the wisdom of J. C. Ryle, evidence of how saturated his life was with the Word of God. Here is a quote of his I read this week: “The Gospel which we possess was not given us only to be admired, talked of, professed—but practiced! The Gospel was not meant merely to reside in our intellect, memories, and tongues—but to be seen in our lives.” Today, we love to talk and express our opinions.

From everyday conversations, to the workplace, to the dreaded social media, it’s easy to talk about what we believe if we possess the boldness to do so. Far more important than our words, though, are our actions. The good news of Jesus is not something to be hidden (Matthew 5:14–16), but something to be shared with the entire world (Matthew 28:19–20; Mark 16:15). Are you practicing the Gospel?

[Read more…] about Practicing the Gospel

What Is a Disciple?

by

Everyone who loves Jesus longs to be His disciple. If you don’t, you don’t love Him. It’s a basic litmus test you can use for yourself. As in any conversation, it is vital that we define our terms. What one person thinks it means to be a disciple might differ from someone else’s thoughts.

Of course, we don’t have to rely on the opinions of any fallible human to determine what it means to be a true disciple of Jesus. God’s Word reveals what genuine discipleship looks like. So, what is a disciple? God’s opinion is the only one that matters, so let’s see how He defines it within the pages of His Holy Word.

[Read more…] about What Is a Disciple?

What Should We Say?

by

What should we say to people in conversation? There is no end to words (Ecclesiastes 6:11), and few seem hesitant to share their opinions on any matter. We all know at least a little about a vast range of topics. Very few know enough about a topic to speak with any authority on it at all, although most will proclaim authority despite their ignorance. That’s all of us, isn’t it?

We love to talk, and we long to be seen as an authoritative voice. It feeds our egos and bolsters our self-worth. That should be our first clue about the dangers of pontification. Anything that builds us up inside is pride in disguise. Since God creates each of us in His image, there is nothing any human could say or do to make us more honored or valuable than we already are.

[Read more…] about What Should We Say?