Even If i Walk Alone

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

Daily Life

Dying to Self

by

Central to living life as a fully devoted follower of Jesus is the act of dying to self. It is only when we lose ourselves we are able to then find Jesus (Luke 9:23-24). Paul said in dying to himself he would gain everything (Philippians 1:21). A true follower of Jesus surrenders everything to Him. Whatever we knew before Jesus, we now cast aside in favor of living a life that looks just like His.

dying to self,selfish,selfishness,living for Jesus,discipleship,commitment,freewill,deny yourself,take up your cross,Luke 9:23-24,Philippians 1:21,Matthew 12:30

image © Alex Motrenko via Fotolia

Few can do this all at once, though I wish it were so easy. In reality, we must all die constantly, in every hour. No matter how well or poorly things may be going, we must make a conscious effort in each moment to die to ourselves and live for Jesus. It gets easier, I promise, but it is a choice we will have to make from this moment until our last breath. I can think of no higher aspiration for a life.

[Read more…] about Dying to Self

Jesus

by

Two thousand years ago a man walked this earth a little differently than any who had come before him or ever since. He never sought his own welfare or fame. He never wavered from his purpose. Above everything else, this man simply loved people; not for what they could do for him, but rather just because they existed. He didn’t care where they came from or what they had done. It didn’t matter what society thought of them; he saw them as beautiful and priceless.

Jesus,easter,resurrection,love,God's love,crucifixion,good friday

image © kevron2001 via Fotolia

When he passed the poor, he looked them in the eye and healed their souls. Upon encountering the sick and diseased he reached out and touched them, healing their wounds and washing their scars. In return he never asked for money. He simply loved.

[Read more…] about Jesus

A Disciple’s Life

by

Have you ever noticed when Jesus sent His disciples into the world, He didn’t send them out to receive earthly pleasures or joy, but rather to persecution and tribulation? He didn’t send them out to receive honor, but rather the contempt of the people. Jesus did not send them into a life of ease and rest, but rather to one of hard and difficult labor.

a disciples life,disciples life,jesus follower,disciple,discipleship,commitment,purpose, Jesus follower

image © Vibe Images via Fotolia

What was appealing to Christ’s early followers was not the life they would be leading but rather the fruit which would be the reward of their work. They were not focused on what they might gain or obtain, but only on what would be achieved for God’s glory and His Kingdom. This is what it looks like to be a disciple. It was true then, and it is true today.

[Read more…] about A Disciple’s Life

This Is Not Our Home

by

I believe the reason so many Christians feel frustrated or ineffective is because they are too firmly planted on earth. It’s so easy to be wooed by all the beautiful things this world has to offer. Rarely do we realize everything we see here is a cheap knock-off of the real thing. No matter how beautiful something is, it is tainted and forever obscured by sin. What we perceive as amazing is far less than ordinary when compared to the original God had in mind when He created the necessary parts of which it consists.

this is not our home,earthly things,heavenly things,Kingdom of God,priorities,selfishness,Heaven,eternity,eternal life

image © Luis Louro via Fotolia

This isn’t an esoteric discussion; the more value we ascribe to things of the here and now, the less desire we will feel for things of eternity. Until we recognize the world we are striving for far outshines the one in which we live, we will remain too firmly anchored to the realm of death and confusion.
[Read more…] about This Is Not Our Home

Live Humbly

by

In his classic work, “The Imitation of Christ”, Thomas à Kempis wrote: “Strive to do another’s will rather than your own. Always choose to have less rather than more. Always seek the lowest place and be subject to everyone else. Wish and pray at all times God’s will be fulfilled in you. If we will do this, we will enter into the inheritance of peace and rest.”

live humbly,humility,humbleness,humble,God's will,commitment,life purpose,Imitation of Christ,Thomas a Kempis

image © rghenry via Fotolia

These words, written nearly six hundred years ago still hold great wisdom for us today. If we would live our lives in such a way, we would slough off much stress and anxiety. I believe most of the stress, regret, and worry we feel is due to our focus being on ourselves rather than on God and others.

[Read more…] about Live Humbly