Even If i Walk Alone

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

1 Samuel

Hypocrisy Is Useless

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Hypocrisy is useless. After all, who do you think you’re fooling? God knows your innermost thoughts. (Psalm 139:1-4; Jeremiah 17:10) You can hide nothing from Him. (Psalm 139:7-12; Proverbs 15:3) To be a hypocrite, then, means you are living your life for someone besides the Lord. And we know that is the most futile thing you can do.

Hypocrisy is only pandering to fellow sinners in hopes they may esteem you as better than themselves. You are the same as them, and perhaps a little worse because you refuse to believe that truth. That is the height of arrogance and pride. Both are detestable to our King. (Proverbs 16:5; James 4:6) So, what is the point of being a hypocrite?

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Circumstances Don’t Matter

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Perhaps the one thing humans do better than anything else is to rationalize. We are always looking for reasons to justify our actions, especially when we know those actions are not right in the eyes of God. It’s amazing how good we can be at convincing ourselves to believe our own nonsense. And we know it’s nonsense. We know in our hearts what is right and what is wrong because the Holy Spirit always makes it clear.

But what about the circumstances surrounding our decision? Let’s be clear about what God’s Word says. Circumstances don’t matter; obedience does. (1 Samuel 15:22; John 14:15) The only decision is whether you will listen to a holy and perfect God or your imperfect and selfish heart.

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Remember

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It’s good to take a break from the busyness always around us and remember the goodness of the Lord in our lives. (Psalm 103:2; Lamentations 3:22-23) His hand is always on us. Ours is a God powerful enough to keep the world spinning and hanging in thin air while making certain every molecule of life holds together and performs its function.

And yet He is still intimate enough to care about the smallest details in our lives. Think about that for a moment. We know it intellectually, but how often do we feel it in our hearts? Jesus Christ, who gave His life on a cross to save all humanity, is also interested in how your day is going. Who are we that He should take notice of us? (Psalm 8:3-4; 1 Peter 5:6-7)

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Speak Truth

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Why is it we humans are so good at lying? Okay, maybe we’re not all good at it, but we all do it. Perhaps we don’t think of it as lying, but I don’t think any are innocent of “stretching the truth”, “exaggerating the details”, or “fudging the numbers” at some point in our lives. Lying seems to be a human obsession. My hope is those who choose to recognize Jesus as Lord and accept His gift of new life will not be in the habit of lying.

two men who speak truth to one another shaking hands while exuding honesty and humility

As Christians, we must speak truth whenever we open our mouths. We do it because God commands it (Exodus 20:16) and because being truthful brings Him glory (Proverbs 12:22). God is not a man, and therefore He cannot lie (Numbers 23:19). If we are to be holy as He is holy (1 Peter 1:16), then truth is always the only option for us.

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Don’t Forget to Pray

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Don’t forget to pray for our brothers and sisters throughout the world who are suffering for the cause of Christ. Isn’t it a little crazy and even a little to our shame that we need to be reminded to do something so basic yet powerful? Why is prayer so neglected in the lives of most Christians? Having an open channel to the throne of God would seem to be enough to keep us forever on our proverbial knees (Hebrews 4:16).

prayer,persecution,commitment,focus,priorities,selfishness,persecuteddon't forget to pray

Where else will we learn so much about our Creator? What other activity is so nourishing to our minds and souls? And yet prayer is often only remembered when we find ourselves in need. James writes, “The intense prayer of the righteous is very powerful” (James 5:16). Why are we so reluctant to tap into such power?

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