Even If i Walk Alone

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

Daily Life

Urgent and Reckless

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When considering your Christian life, would you classify it as urgent and reckless? Would you say that you are urgently doing all that you can to tell others about Christ? Is your life marked by a spirit of recklessness, one that pursues the kingdom at any cost? If our heart does not literally break with the thought of millions, even billions dying without the love and knowledge of Jesus Christ, we need to seriously evaluate our commitment to Him. If we are not leading a life easily identified by urgency and recklessness, then I have to question if our hearts are truly broken by the things that break the heart of God.

Jesus said to go into all the nations telling the people there about His love and His mercy. This is our call and our mission, the very will of God for our lives. He has not blessed us to be in America so that we might live a life of comfort and ease. He has blessed us to be in America so we will take the vast resources entrusted to us and give them to a world so desperately in need. Parents all around the world are wasting away and their children lay dying at their feet. HIV and AIDS runs rampant because we simply have not yet heeded the call to go and educate the world about the facts of this disease. Communities drink filthy and contaminated water because they lack the resources to drill proper wells to reach the water that would bring life and vitality to their village. Half the world lives on less than $2 a day while we think nothing of spending twice that amount on a daily latte.

We lack urgency and we crave safety rather than recklessness. How can we claim we are doing all we can for the lost and dying when we can’t even get out of bed on a Saturday morning? How dare we say that we have given all we can give to help others in need while we sit in warm houses with full cupboards and a couple of cars parked in the garage. We’re not doing all that we can, and we’re not giving all that we can. We are doing just enough to present a good picture to our friends and neighbors and we are giving just enough to salve our consciouses. This isn’t urgency, this is apathy.

Until we cease pursuing first our own selfish comforts, we will never make a marked difference in this world. Until we let go of the safety of our corner of the world, we will have no idea what it means to live with reckless abandon. We have become accustomed to living in the manner of this world instead of seeking first the Kingdom of God. How can we sleep at night with the knowledge that we have a closet full of shoes while millions of people have nothing on their feet? We live in excess while they dwell in squalor. Jesus told us that we were not of this world, so why do we insist on living as if we are? When will it be time for us to stop living in selfishness and begin to release everything we have in service for God’s kingdom? How much longer will we refuse to live the lives for which we were created?

If the thoughts of the hungry around the world do not bring tears to your eyes and an ache to your heart, beg God to break your heart for the lost and the least of these. If you are not urgently seeking ways to serve the dying and the poor every minute of your life, pray that God would give you a fresh dose of zeal to further His mission. If you are not living recklessly, forsaking everything to pursue justice and serve the needs of the hurting, cry out and ask the Lord to instill His passion within you. With each breath we run closer to the end of our race; we are losing time and it cannot be regained. Who will not hear the name of Jesus because we were content to stay under the covers for ten more minutes? Who will die without Christ because we were too busy watching TV? How many children will go without food or water today because we refused to sacrifice what we have?

Each of us knows the score; each of us is aware that while difficult to hear, these words are true. It’s your turn now; it’s my turn too. Will today be the same as every other day? Will tomorrow be one more entry into a life poorly lived? This is a call to action. Change begins with you and it begins with me, and it must begin now. We have no more time. Will you choose to continue pursuing the American dream, or will you forsake everything to be the hands and feet of Jesus to a world on the brink of disaster? This is our time; this is our call. What will you do?

Blind Spots

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What am I missing? In my pursuit of Jesus, what have I overlooked? Where are my blind spots? I think these are all fair questions to reflect on as we strive to live a life of service to our Lord. I certainly have no corner on the truth and I obviously do not have all the answers. That’s why I believe it is important to occasionally examine how we’re living and reevaluate if there is more we could be doing to reflect the love of Jesus to our world. We need the input of fellow traveler’s and eagerly accept course corrections when they are pointed out to us, as we seek His kingdom in everything we do.

Nothing is so clarifying as the Bible. One of my favorite mysteries in life is how I can read a passage I’ve read a hundred times before and somehow gain brand new insight. Examining the life of Christ helps me understand the ways I need to respond in various situations. Both the Old and New Testaments provide instruction on properly molding my attitudes towards others and give wisdom in dealing with everyday life. There is no substitute for reading the Word of God. This is our primary reference point for how to live and serve. By consistently immersing ourselves in Scripture, we will be constantly reminded how we can best serve those in need and bring glory to Christ.

Make a habit of reading books by authors who have studied the Word and have fresh insights to offer. If you aren’t a reader, listen to audio books. God has not stopped speaking through willing servants, and He inspires them to teach truth to the rest of the body. Prayerfully consider what you read and always check what you learn against Scripture. Someone else may look at a Bible passage from an entirely different perspective and allow you to learn many new things from their viewpoint. We all learn from each other in community; this is one of the purposes of the Church. God is a relational being and we are created in His image; therefore it is important to associate with other believers, both in person and vicariously through the writing of others.

Finally, we can learn much from gathering with our Christian brothers and sisters. As you gather together at your regular fellowship, glean all you can from the message that is presented. Drink deeply of any worship that you engage in as a body. These are rich times that we are privileged to freely enjoy in the Western world, and we must not take them for granted. Beyond the time spent at your weekly worship service, find friends who will join you on your journey. Nothing beats face to face interaction, but even friends made online can be very beneficial to helping you stay on track as you seek to serve Christ. Find an accountability partner, someone who will watch your life as you watch theirs. Agree to regular meetings or phone calls to check in with each other’s progress. I have found this one discipline can to lead to amazing growth.

Recognizing that we never know it all allows us to guiltlessly seek the help of others. Don’t neglect the resources with which God has blessed you. We are blessed to live in a country that affords us many ways to further learn about God; utilize all that you can. Study the Bible, read inspirational books that instruct you in the ways of Christ, and get involved with a group of people who are equally committed to living lives that look like Jesus. Reflect often on where you may be falling short and perhaps giving Satan an opportunity to attack. Doing these things will reveal your current blind spots and prevent new ones from forming in the future.

Love Is… Courteous

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Continuing our mini-series of looking at the various attributes of love (see our previous examinations of kindness, patience, and forgiveness), today I want to talk about courtesy. To be courteous is to show regard or thought for others (source: Wiktionary.org). It means always putting the interests of another before your own. In the Western culture we grow up being taught that we should look out for ourselves first and get all that we can. I’m afraid our society has become anything but courteous. Those of us who choose to live for Christ, however, choose to live in love; and love is always courteous.

The easiest way to show courtesy to another is to first see them as someone of value. Too often we classify people as being above or beneath us when in truth we are all equal before God. As we start to recognize the value in everyone, we begin to treat them as if they were old friends. You wouldn’t see an old friend on the street and simply walk by; you would smile and greet them enthusiastically. This is the attitude we must develop in order to show courtesy to those we encounter. You never know who you will befriend next. Your simple act of courtesy could blossom into a rich, life-long relationship. Do you see the difference it could make in your outlook if every morning you awoke excited to see whom you would meet that day? I imagine this was what it was like to happen upon Jesus. I envision an easy smile and warm eyes, with a demeanor that said “I’ve been waiting to meet you.” This is how we as followers of Christ should present ourselves to the world. Every venture into the public square should be one anticipated with great excitement.

Being courteous can be difficult when we are tired or stressed out which gives us all the more reason to develop the trait when we are wide awake and feeling our best. Love is more than an emotion; it is also an action and a habit. We all need to develop the habits of love which means we all need to become courteous people. Don’t be in a hurry when conversing with someone. Recognize that most people are hurting or struggling with something in their life. Most just need someone who will listen to them. Our reflexive nature tends to be to rush through a conversation in order to be about our business. Realizing that all people need love, we need to remember that our primary mission is to reflect Christ to others. Spend some time getting to know the person and listen to their heart. You may not become fast friends, but you will leave with the satisfaction of knowing you extended courtesy to another human being, one who is highly valued by God and has limitless potential.

Courtesy should not only be extended outside the home, in fact it begins there. If we do not treat those closest to us with love, it is more than likely we will not demonstrate courtesy to those outside our inner circle. Begin practicing courtesy at home and you will see your relationships blossom like never before. Always compliment someone before permitting yourself to say anything critical. When you are bothered by the actions of another, put yourself in their shoes and understand where they are coming from. Chances are if you will take a moment to understand what they are feeling you will realize they are not intending to upset you.

Extending courtesy every day is a habit that will make you a very attractive person and win many friends. Your words and actions should always show that you value the other person and see them as someone of great worth. When you are tempted to make a rude or sarcastic comment, pause and consider the motivation of the other person; try to understand what they are going through and recognize that are struggling and hurting – just like you. Picture Christ in the room with you as you interact with other people; check your responses against what you would imagine His to be. As you learn the art of courtesy you will find yourself becoming a more loving person in noticeable and tangible ways. You will begin to look like Jesus as you approach others with extended arms and an open heart. Love will uncontrollably spill out of you with the unstoppable force of Christ.

True Confession

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Do we have what it takes to deliver the Gospel to the remote places in the world? Do we have the courage to go where we may be killed for talking about Jesus? What about our possessions; are we willing to sell everything we have and give that money to the poor? Would we choose Jesus over our own family and children? All of these are questions that I think most Christ followers would quickly answer in the affirmative: “We are willing; we will go.” If this is true then why aren’t more going? Why have two billion people never heard the name of Jesus or learned of His love for them? Why do so many of us live in affluence while nearly half the world exists on less than $2 per day?

To avoid any resentment and in the interest of full disclosure, let me make a few confessions: I passionately love Jesus Christ and seek to serve Him in authentic ways that shake the world with His love and for His glory. That was the easy one; that is the person I am striving to grow into. The reality though, based on the questions above, is something different. I live in the middle of America, safe, secure, and far away from the remote places of the world. I face no real persecution for boldly stating my beliefs, but outside of the internet, I have never voiced these opinions in a country that would imprison or even kill me for speaking such words. I have far too many possessions. Despite moving towards a minimalist lifestyle, the sheer quantity of items in my house is astounding. Most would consider me to be on the upper end of the economic scale; I earn a very good living. I’m not jets and jaguars rich, but I do okay. I have not sold everything and given it to the poor. While generous with what I’ve been entrusted, I live in a manner that is far above what most in the world will ever know. I struggle with the thoughts of what I would do if someone was threatening my family; I wonder if I would choose to show them grace and mercy or if I would violently react to protect the ones I love.

I confess all this for the purpose of letting you know that I have a long way to go on my journey of living a Christ-like life. I believe I could sell everything and trust that the Lord would provide for my needs. I am confident I would not waver in my faith even if I were staring down the barrel of a gun (or far worse). I can see myself going wherever the Lord leads me, even as I wonder at the logistics of it all. As for acting peacefully when confronted with violence against my family, well, that’s still a work in progress. But for all my confidence that I would react in a way that is honoring to God in all these areas, I still have never acted on any of them. I’m not there yet, and I covet your prayers.

I suspect you are not so different from me. You love the Lord and honestly believe you would do anything for Him and never waver in your beliefs. I also suspect that you’ve never taken action on many of these areas either. Here is the bottom line though; we’ve got to get this done. We’ve got to put our faith into radical action if we truly want to see the world come to Christ and make His Kingdom a reality here on earth. Our safe and lavish lifestyles have become a hindrance to our obedience. Jesus told us to go and the furthest we venture is down the road to our place of work. That’s not going; that’s staying put. We were told to go into all nations proclaiming the name of Christ and that means more than sending a check each month. While we live in luxury, people all around the world are starving and have no clean water to soothe their parched lips. We have been given so much and we have kept it for ourselves.

If you are honest with yourself, my guess is you are confident in your confession but in reality it has become a lip-service faith. I’m with you. Perhaps we will never face death or prison for our beliefs. That’s not a bad thing as long as we are willing to put ourselves in those situations if needed. One way to know for sure we’d be prepared to do so is by following all the other commands of Christ. If we cannot be trusted to serve Him in small ways, how can we honestly claim that we would serve Him in the major trials? As we approach a new year, consider how you might spend some time going to where the lost and hurting desperately need to hear about the love of Jesus. Consider your response to the poor and determine ways you can simplify your life, divest your resources and make a significant impact on their lives. Immerse yourself in Scripture and devote your every action to be used for His glory. Prove yourself faithful in the smallest things so He will entrust you with more. Pray for one another. Join me in making 2011 a year that will be like none before it, a year in which we truly shake the world with the love of Jesus. We’re not there yet, but let’s be on our way.

A Meaningful Life

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Living life on purpose is a daunting but achievable task. It means planning our days and designing our life to look like the One whom we serve – Jesus Christ. We cannot hope to be an obedient follower simply by praying a prayer and then assuming everything else will take care of itself. That’s like deciding to learn how to play an instrument by signing up for a class. It takes more than signing on. It takes attending the classes, learning the exercises, and practicing for hours each day. Mastering an instrument requires a steely discipline, a significant sacrifice and a probably a few tears along the way. It is the same with following Jesus.

Without disciplining ourselves to follow in His footsteps, we will never grow to become the person He created us to be. We have to examine the way He lived and then integrate those principles into our own life. Jesus often withdrew to pray alone. He took every opportunity to speak to others about God. He was never too busy to take time for someone in need. He touched the sick and had compassion for the poor and dying. Are these traits evident in our lives? Do we have a scheduled time to get alone, away from distraction, just to communicate with the Father? We all need to take time for these moments of intimacy through prayer, listening and talking to God. Do we take the time to truly invest in the lives of others, or are we so distracted and consumed with the busyness of our lives that we simply pass them by? Do we care for the sick or look the other way? What is our attitude towards the poor and the dying? Do we give of our own resources to comfort and aid them in their distress? If we would live a life dedicated to Christ, we must learn to do the things He did and love as He loved. This will require a conscious effort on our part, one that will need to be intentionally implemented and constantly practiced. To be certain, we will often fail to reflect the love of Christ, but the more we practice, the brighter we will shine.

Following Jesus will require a fair amount of sacrifice on our behalf. We will have to make choices that bring little satisfaction in the short run but reap great long term results. If we would follow Christ, we will need to put away the things in life that bring temporal pleasure in exchange for the activities that deliver eternal joy. Our time and money will need to be surrendered to His kingdom instead of being spent to satisfy our selfish desires. Ultimately we may be called upon to make the ultimate sacrifice and give our very lives because of our identity with Christ. Many Christians overlook the fact that Jesus told us that we would face persecution (Matthew 5:11) and even death because of Him. If we are serious about pursuing Jesus, we must be willing to sacrifice as He did; without sacrifice there is no salvation.

As we practice walking as He did, as we face persecution for our beliefs, it is natural to become frustrated and discouraged. Following Jesus can be painful and hard. As Margaret Becker once wrote, “God’s not afraid of your honesty”; it’s okay to cry and let Him know exactly how you feel and where it hurts. He loves you and cares for you. Ultimately He will heal us and bring us into His presence to live forever. Tears are both cleansing and healing, so let it out and then get back to the work of following Him.

It’s been said many times, but following Jesus is not a spectator sport; it is an active and passionate pursuit. If He is our goal, then it is our responsibility to live intentionally and on purpose for Him. By disciplining our lives to look like His and practicing the things He did and told us to do, by sacrificing all we are for all He is, and by not being afraid to give him our burdens and frustrations, we will find a life that is fulfilling and meaningful. We will find life as it was meant to be lived. We will find the heart of Jesus.