Even If i Walk Alone

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

Daily Life

The Sheep and the Goats, part 1

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A life of following Christ starts by simply accepting the free gift of His salvation (Ephesians 2:8, 9). Many people stop at this point, a result of laziness, lack of commitment or simply bad theology. But to live a life devoted to Christ, we must also do the things that Christ has created us to do (Ephesians 2:10). But what if you don’t know what those things are? Many people go through their lives never quite knowing for certain what they want to be when they grow up. Fortunately, Christ made it very clear for us, both to those who are highly driven and purposeful and those who are still trying to figure it all out. Regardless which group you fall into, Jesus told us in Matthew 25:31-46 the things that we must do to join Him in Heaven. Today I want to quickly break down these areas and we’ll perhaps dive deeper into some of them at a later point. While most of these commands are fairly obvious at face value, I want to pursue ways we can go about accomplishing these tasks in our day to day lives. Many of them we normally relegate to missionaries or special ministries. Christ did not call a special few to do these works, but rather He called all who choose to follow Him. Over the next four posts we’ll examine working out the commands in the parable of the “Sheep and the Goats” from both a physical and spiritual perspective. We’ll start with the physical perspective.

Feed the Hungry. Short term mission trips are a wonderful place to be able to feed hungry people from other countries and cultures. However, there are plenty of opportunities to feed the hungry in the cities where you live. You can take food to a disabled neighbor, invite others over for a meal or pay for someone’s groceries nest time you are out shopping. Go to a part of town where there are homeless people and buy them a sandwich; take some bread, peanut butter and jelly with you and you can make sandwiches for the whole block! Donating to food banks is a very tangible way you can feed hungry people. Check with your church to see if they have programs to help out those who cannot afford groceries. Donate to ministries that feed children and refugees; this is a very important way you can use the money God has blessed you with to provide food for people you would otherwise have no way to reach. If you do not know of any ministries, I trust and highly recommend Compassion International and Persecution Project.

Give the thirsty a drink. Think of all the times you pass by outdoor workers and think what thirsty work it must be. Sure, they may have brought something to drink with them, but you will lift their spirits and quench their thirst by simply handing out some water to them. Keep your trunk stocked with bottled water and you’ll be ready for every opportunity. Go downtown on a hot summer day and hand out water to those walking around. Attend events that draw a lot of people and hand out water in the parking lot. Donate to ministries and organizations that work to provide clean drinking water to people groups that otherwise would not have access to any. On an even grander scale donate funds to dig a well in parched countries such as Sudan. Persecution Project is providing one such ministry with their 100 wells campaign in Jaac, Sudan.

These are just a few practical suggestions how you might do the good works you were created to do. In the next post, we will examine the rest of the commands from the “Sheep and the Goats” as applied from a physical perspective. Begin thinking how you can incorporate some of the thoughts here into your own life. I’d love to hear some of your ideas as well, simply leave a comment below about how you work out the commands to feed the hungry and give water to the thirsty. Whatever you do, focus on Jesus, love people and live out your commitment to Christ by serving others. Let’s not stop at the gift of grace. Let’s do the work Christ created for us to do.

Humility, Truthfulness and Peace

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Be humble, truthful and work for peace. This is the kind of life we are called to live. We talk much about the things we should do, but not often enough about the type of person we should be. So as we strive to live a life that looks like Jesus, as we show love to everyone and as we care for the orphans and the widows, let’s make certain we are becoming the person Christ called us to be.

From my perspective, humility is one of the most attractive traits someone can possess. I love being around humble people. They make me feel better about myself, more comfortable in my own skin. Brash arrogance, on the other hand, sickens me and has me looking for a quick exit. Humble people are gracious and gentle. They don’t spend much (if any) time talking about themselves. They are much more interested in you and others. A life marked by humility is a life that is not self-seeking and rather is always looking for ways to deflect praise and credit. They know that all they have is a gift. As Christians, we know the source of those gifts, and we must never boast in our talents, as they are simply on loan.

Truthfulness is another welcoming attribute. I can’t imagine anyone really likes to hang out with folks who are habitual or even occasional liars. Jesus said that what we say should be what we mean; there’s no wiggle room there. I do not find any Biblical allowance for man made ideas such as the ‘white lie’. Tell the truth at all times. Others are drawn to those whom they can trust to tell the truth. Simply being truthful can add years to a friendship, while a single lie can end that same friendship in a heartbeat.

To live in peace can be very controversial. There are moral dilemmas and social baggage that accompany thoughts of living in peace. Is war acceptable if your side is “right” (Note that neither side ever actually believes they are on the “wrong” side)? Is it okay to use violence if need to protect your own family? What if I’m coming to the aid of an innocent victim? These are deep questions, deserving of their own post. For today’s discussion, suffice it to say that I’d rather live next door to a peaceful person than one prone to rage or revenge. Peaceful people are calming, and that is exactly the effect we as Christians should have on others around us. They should feel a sense of calm which will allow them to be more open to hearing about the love of Jesus.
As for me, whatever it is I might offer to this world is simply a result of the gifts that God has graciously given to me. How could I possibly take credit? I want to be a person known for straight talk, someone without a hidden agenda, and a person who will tell you the truth no matter what. Oh that my steps might be marked with peace and my hands open to help; I long for the mercy of God.

Guard your tongue; let truth be the only thing you allow to pass through your lips. When you agree to something, do it. When you are asked a question, tell the truth. Think more of others than yourself and constantly be on the lookout for ways you might help them. Remember all that you are is simply on loan from God; be humble. Wherever and whenever possible, live in peace with your family, your neighbors, and all those with whom you come into contact. Live a life modeled after Jesus, the life He intended for you to live; be humble and truthful always, living peacefully with everyone.

Integrity

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Are you a person of integrity? As I have stated previously on this blog, I believe integrity is an all or nothing character trait. You do not have amounts of integrity; it is either something you do or do not have. To be a person of integrity is to be above reproach at all times. So how could anyone possibly live a life of integrity when we constantly mess up and fail?

I believe living a life of integrity means you are constantly building your integrity. Whether or not you have integrity is really more of a heart attitude. What, in the very depths of your soul, at your core, do you desire? Do you want to be someone who never cheats, never lies, never cuts corners, and always puts the interests of others before themselves? If you do, I believe you have integrity. However, that integrity needs to be manifested in your behavior. Every day we are building or tearing down our perceived integrity. To put this in another way, whether or not we have integrity is a heart issue; whether or not we demonstrate that integrity is a matter of choices.

In the business world, you build integrity every time you are honest with a client. You build integrity when you put the needs of your customers and your employees before the needs of yourself. Every time you refuse to cut corners, you build your integrity. In business, the most successful individuals are historically those with a perceived high degree of integrity.

Integrity is demonstrated in our relationships as well. Here again, putting the needs of your husband or wife before your own shows that you have integrity in your relationship. Modeling respect for your spouse (or boyfriend or girlfriend) also shows integrity. For example, noticing an attractive member of the opposite sex does not show a lack of integrity. However, letting your gaze linger and your mind ponder possibilities with that individual shows a complete lack of integrity. You promised an unwavering life-long commitment to your partner, and a person of integrity honors their commitments. Jesus says that if we think something sinful, it is the same as having done it. Having integrity in our thought life is one of the most important traits a Christian can have. It is also one of the most difficult.

I suppose you may be wondering why we’re having this discussion of integrity. Simply put, if we cannot be people of integrity in our dealings with everyday life, we stand no chance of living a life of integrity when it comes to serving Jesus. We committed our lives to Him, but how many of us are living out that commitment? Do you keep your eyes fixed on the Holy Son of God, or do they wander to the pleasures of this life, consumed by the lure of instant gratification?
Are we demonstrating integrity in our financial habits? Are you spending more on your entertainment than you are in caring for the poor and needy? Do we demonstrate integrity in our thought life? To quote the late Keith Green, “What’s playing in the theater of your mind?” This is the acid test for integrity: are you living a life devoted to Christ and others, or are you pursuing your own pleasure and happiness?

Tom Ziglar points out a couple of great results of integrity: we never feel guilty about our actions, and we never have anything to hide. If we are living our lives for Christ, then we never need to fear. We can be totally honest with everyone we meet for we have nothing to hide. We can sleep at night without guilt, without regret, for we know we are doing the things Christ would do. We are free, freer than we could ever hope to be otherwise. A lack of integrity brings guilt and fear and wears us down from the endless pursuit of trying to maintain a façade.

Search your heart. Are you a person of integrity? Do you want to serve Christ more than anything in this world? Are you prepared to do whatever it takes to follow Him? If not, pray and ask that God would give you integrity and the strength to demonstrate that integrity through your actions. As a person of integrity, we will love others at all times, assist them in their struggles and serve God every waking moment. Be a person of integrity. Serve Christ with all your heart. When you fall, get up quickly and continue your journey with Him. Let’s build the Kingdom without guilt and with nothing to hide. Determine that today is the day you become a person of integrity. Put the world on notice; from this day forward you will serve and follow Christ with integrity in all aspects of your life.

Who Will You Become?

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The last three blog entries dealt with setting goals for the New Year (see “Goals for the New Year”, part 1, part 2, and part 3). The New Year has now arrived and I hope you have taken the time to think about the upcoming year and set some goals for yourself. Ultimately, the goal setting exercise can be effectively boiled down to a single question, which is what I wish to discuss today. That question is, “Who will you become this year?”

When 2010 is over, what kind of person will you be? If you do not strive to know Jesus better every day of this year, it is unlikely you will have your best year ever. Nothing creates satisfaction more than knowing you are walking in the way Jesus walked, living as He did and acting as He did. As we do these things we begin to see and live the life He intended for us. We can never be truly fulfilled and happy when we are living any other way. God instilled in each of us a passion to seek Him and to follow Him. Not doing so breeds frustration, anger and despair. When we aren’t living the life He designed for us, we will not find satisfaction, though we may try, in our work, our leisure or our relationships. So when 2010 draws to a close, will you be living – or at least attempting to live – the life you were created to live?

When 2010 is over, how will other people describe you? As we aspire to live out our passions, we can become consumed by learning what that life looks like. It generally involves countless hours of study and reflection. The danger here is the risk of becoming self-absorbed. We can be so engulfed in seeking the “how” to live that we lose sight of the “why” we should do so. Regardless of anything else, regardless of your passions and gifts, they are to be used to further the Kingdom of God and to love and help others along the way. We cannot do this in isolation, huddled behind our books and sheltered from the distraction of the world outside. Without putting action behind our mission, we will never achieve the life God intends for us. So when 2010 draws to a close, will others see you as loving, humble, compassionate, generous and full of wisdom? Or will they see a selfish, self-absorbed, studious but ultimately worthless person? Who will you become, and will it be obvious to others?

When 2010 is over, will you be closer to Christ, or further from Him, than you were at the close of 2009? This is really the core of the question. Will you know Christ more deeply when this year is done than you did at the close of the last one? Do you truly desire to know Him, love Him, reflect Him and take His message to a world of hurting people? This is all there is. Nothing else matters in this life. Regardless of our success or achievements, nothing will mean a thing if we do not have the love of Christ overflowing from within us. There is no satisfaction apart from living the life He intended for you to live. There is no way to live that life without knowing Him fully and deeply. As we embark on the journey of a new year together, let’s learn to know and love Him more. Let’s serve Him with fantastic passion and excellence. In this way, 2010 will be the best year of our lives. So it’s gut check time; when 2010 is over, who will you have become?

Goals for the New Year, part 3

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With the new year upon us tomorrow, I wanted to share a few more thoughts on goal setting. It’s important that we do not face the new year without a plan. If we do not articulate a plan for ourselves, we allow life to affect us rather than us affecting life. Jesus always had a plan, and He impacted life more than any other being who ever walked on this earth. Okay, He did have the advantage of being God, but even mortals such as us can learn from His perfect example. Let’s not only learn from His example, but as far as humanly possible, let’s conduct our lives in the same manner as Christ did.

Before getting too far ahead of ourselves and setting goals for next year, I believe it is important to reflect on 2009. Reflecting on last year helps us gain some perspective. Think back and write down 5-10 accomplishments from the past year. What was your proudest moment, your greatest achievement? Also take a moment and make a list of lessons you learned in 2009. These are perhaps things you attempted but did not succeed at, or maybe things you were too afraid to try and you missed the opportunity. Thinking back on what you accomplished last year can provide a spring board and some healthy momentum as you plan for 2010. Learning from the actions of last year can help not only determine new goals, but also to avoid pitfalls as you make your action plans.

It’s important to remember that even with the information I have been sharing, there is no one tried and true formula for achieving your goals. Specifically defining what your goals are, writing them down and breaking them into bite size tasks certainly helps and gives you a great advantage over those who do not do these things. But ultimately, successfully accomplishing your goals is somewhat of an art form. How you get from the starting gate to the finish line is up to you. You know yourself better than anyone. Passionately, creatively, discover how you can achieve the goals you set for yourself. Determine to succeed and let nothing get in your way. Review your goals regularly and adjust accordingly.

Finally, anything you wish to accomplish will be meaningless if it does not align with the character of Jesus. One easy question I ask myself is, “Is this something that would make Jesus smile?” My ultimate goal is to serve Him with every ounce of my life. I choose to accomplish this by spending regular time in prayer with Him, studying His life and the heart of God, and using my gifts to further His kingdom. It is a lifelong pursuit, but it is a pursuit of love. I will not stop until I achieve the life He intended me to live. We have one life, and it is short. How will you spend your days? What will you do with your life? What will you do for Him? A new year is upon us; dedicate yourself to Jesus and plan a powerful life of love for next year. This is the year that everything changes. This is the moment to decide. Let’s make 2010 the best year of our life.