Even If i Walk Alone

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

1 Thessalonians

Hate or Regret?

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When it comes to sin and evil, are they something you hate or regret? The difference is not wordplay or subtlety. It’s one thing to feel bad about disobeying God and quite another to be repulsed at the thought of ever doing so. Our sin is the reason Jesus had to suffer and die in our place as an atoning sacrifice. (Isaiah 53:5-6; 1 Peter 3:18) To come to a place of repentance requires more from us than just regretting Jesus had to go through that.

He doesn’t need you to feel bad for Him. What Jesus desires is that you recognize your need for His sacrifice. (Mark 1:15; Luke 5:32) The Lord cannot tolerate sin (Habakkuk 1:13; Psalm 5:4-5) and as we are called to look and act like Him (Ephesians 5:1-2; 1 John 2:6), we too must hate every sin and every form of wickedness. (Romans 12:9; Psalm 97:10)

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Ready for Action

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Christianity is not to be a passive faith but one where we are called to be ready for action. So many Christians profess their faith in Jesus and never do anything else for the Kingdom. Can such faith save them? (James 2:17; James 2:26) The Christian life is not some sort of spectator sport. We must be serious; this is not a game.

Every day, demonic forces are wreaking havoc throughout the world. They understand what’s at stake, and they know their time is running out. A desperate Satan is even more dangerous and formidable than ever. He is gunning for you, and if you aren’t preparing for battle, you will not finish well. (Ephesians 6:12; 1 Corinthians 9:24-27)

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Jesus First

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We who call ourselves Christians espouse putting Jesus first in our lives. It’s not that we are trying to be deceptive, but how true is that statement for most of us? When I was a younger boy, my father wore a pin on his suit jacket that said, “Jesus First.” I recall they were popular in church circles in the late 70s and early 80s.

I also remember being thrilled when my dad gave me a pin of my own. It became part of my Sunday wardrobe and even sometimes when I would go to school. Wearing something like that can make one more mindful of their conduct, but ultimately it does nothing to make it true in our lives. Only our actions can do that.

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Fear Death?

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Do you fear death? Many Christians do, and it always makes me scratch my head. I’m not sure what would make a believer in Jesus fear meeting Him. I can’t wait to die. Perhaps that’s too morbid for many to read, but do you understand what is waiting for us on the other side? Why would anyone want to stay in this body a second longer than they have to?

Every good thing we experience in this life will be a thousand times better in Heaven, and every bad thing will cease to exist. (1 Corinthians 2:9; Revelation 21:4) It’s a deal unlike any other, and reaching our final destination at last should excite us all.

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Vertical Prayers

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While we should be praying vertical prayers, too often we are stuck praying in a horizontal manner. I’m not speaking of the posture we assume when we pray, but the direction of the content of our prayers. There’s a stark difference between the prayers of Jesus and the way we pray. So many of our prayers focus on the people and the world around us but give little attention to the One we are speaking to.

Part of the problem is that we lack the proper realization of what prayer is. It’s not a vehicle to get all the things we desire or even need. After all, God already knows what we need before we ask. (Matthew 6:7-8) We’re not bringing Him new information, but it often seems as if we think we are.

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