Even If i Walk Alone

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

commitment

Don’t Be Normal

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So much of what Christ did ran against tradition and cultural acceptance. He touched diseased people, He ate dinner with prostitutes and thieves, and He refused to conform to societal norms. Somehow we seem to have lost this part of His message. Instead we have become a people obsessed with living in a manner consistent with everyone else. We drive the same cars, wear the same clothes and talk in the same manner as those who do not know Christ. Most of us live in comfortable houses in safe neighborhoods, surrounded by people who are just like us. Arguments are made about living among those who need Jesus and in identifying with them. We use this for justification of living a life that looks no different from our neighbors. Where is the desire to follow Jesus? Where is the passion to walk along the trail that He blazed before us? We are not different; we are not living any differently than the rest of the world, and we are certainly not living the countercultural lifestyle of Jesus Christ.

Where did we lose our way and veer from the path that leads to life? When did we decide that it was simply okay to be “normal”? Jesus wasn’t normal! He lived His entire life in service to others. He endured torture and agony, the likes of which most of us will never have to endure. We are a people consumed with temporal pleasures in lieu of eternal joy. Where is the logic in this? Do we realize what we risk by refusing to live the way Jesus lived? We call ourselves followers of Jesus then continue to live our self-centered and consumptive lifestyles.

Look outside your door; take a look at the evening news. Children are starving all around us. Desperate mothers sell their own dignity because it is the only way they can afford to buy food for their children. Mentally challenged individuals struggle to find a place to sleep and a way to survive in a world that grows increasingly intolerant and brutal. Normal people shake their heads at the tragedy of it all. Jesus did not react as normal people do. He reached out, He lifted people up, and He restored hope. He roamed homeless for over three years so He would be unencumbered by the things of this world in order that He would be free to serve anyone and in any place that He saw fit. Jesus wasn’t normal. He was abnormal in every way and we are called to live a life of this same abnormality.

How are you doing? Are you living a normal life? Are you keeping up with the Jones’ while turning away from the homeless? Do you see the sick and dying all around you? Do you tend to the needs of your neighbor and serve others at every opportunity? Are you leading a normal life or a life that is defiantly weird, a life of total abnormality in terms of love and service? I’ve seen and lived what normal is; I don’t want to be there. I want to live a life of fire and passion for the One who created me, loved me and saved me. I want to demonstrate His love to everyone I meet. I want to serve anyone who is in need. I don’t want to look away or be so consumed with myself that I cannot see beyond it. I don’t want to walk on any path except that which Christ walks before me. I simply cannot, I unequivocally refuse, to live my life for any purpose but to follow Him. I don’t want to be normal.

Your Support System

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We were not meant to walk this path alone. As Christ demonstrated by engaging a band of friends to walk with Him, so we also must surround ourselves with those with whom we can share the journey. Sometimes it is hard to admit that we need help, and we attempt to go it alone. Indeed, there are times when none will go with us, but that is merely an opportunity to meet new friends who are already further along the road than we are. Remember, the goal is to model the life of Christ, and He chose to walk with a group of friends. Having established this, we must be very careful and intentional about whom we will choose as travelling companions.

It is very important that we select friends and role models that have a positive outlook. I’ve talked much about a positive attitude recently, but that only underscores the importance of having such an outlook. We live in a fallen world; evil and despair surround us. We are besieged every day by negative input from others and from our own experiences. When we are discouraged or depressed it is vital to be able to turn to those who can provide some clarity to our situation and help us walk through the minefields. We have more to look forward to than any other people on earth; we know how this ends, and it ends in the arms of Jesus. Therefore we need positive, faithful and Christ loving friends to help keep us motivated and to restore our perspective when we become lost.

Don’t choose to travel with those who are content with mediocrity. Jesus is the standard of excellence, and we must strive to reach the bar He has set for us. If your friends are the types who believe doing something “good enough” is indeed good enough, then you need new friends! Imagine building a house for someone who is homeless and deciding to build it just “good enough”. That is not the standard of service to which Jesus calls us. Jesus demands our all… all the time. Do everything you do as if you were doing it for Jesus Himself. Would you really cut corners or settle for “good enough” if you were doing something directly for Him? No, of course you wouldn’t. Besides, whatever we do for anyone in need, it’s the same as doing it for Christ. Keep this in mind as you go throughout your journey.

The Christian life is hard, and we will face many trials and defeats. Failures are merely the lessons of success. Don’t run from failure, but rather rejoice in it because with each failure you are one step closer to success. Since we are victors in Christ, failure is not a valid reality. Don’t focus on your failures. Learn from them, certainly, but do not linger too long in their midst. Instead, at regular intervals recount your blessings and the successes God has brought to your life. This was the Israelite tradition in the Old Testament. They would often gather together and tell the stories of the various trials God had brought them through and rejoice in the victories He had given them. There is no failure in Christ, only victory. We cannot focus on Christ and failure at the same time; they are polar opposites.

Find some companions with whom to travel as you follow the path set before you by Christ. Choose them wisely. Choose those who will encourage you and help you through the trials. Don’t accept or associate with mediocrity, but rather serve mediocrity with excellence. Be excellent for Christ, do everything with the knowledge that you are doing it for Him. Make a habit of looking back over the road you have travelled. Praise Him for the success He has given you, and thank him for the lessons of what, at the time, looked like failure. Surround yourself with like minded followers of Jesus. Stay focused on Christ; enjoy the adventure of walking together in the footsteps of our Savior and our King.

True Surrender

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In Christianity there is much talk about the concept of surrender. Indeed, acts of surrender are the foundation of our faith. God surrendered absolute control when he gave freewill to his creation; He surrendered His own Son as a means to save that same creation from themselves; Jesus surrendered His life so that a humanity destined for Hell might live. While He walked on this earth, Jesus implored those who would follow Him to surrender everything to do so. That same call remains today.

So what exactly does true surrender look like? With Easter nearing, many Christians are celebrating a season of Lent. During this time it is customary for them to give up or surrender something they cherish, usually expressed as a certain food or activity. Is this what true surrender looks like? Or perhaps surrender means simply abstaining from the traditional “sins” of modern Christendom: smoking, swearing, dancing or gambling? Is this surrender? What of those Christ followers that do not subscribe to the aforementioned beliefs, are they lacking in some way so as not to be surrendered to Christ?

I believe a life lived in true surrender is a life lived in reverent awe of our God. Traditionally this has been referred to as “the fear of the Lord”. I read an absolutely outstanding definition of what it means to fear the Lord in the notes of my study Bible (since the actual author of the note is not identified, I will source my study Bible in full, The Apologetics Study Bible). There it is defined as “The worship of, and respectful submission to, the authority of God in every area of our life”. I believe a life lived in this manner will be a life lived in total surrender to God. It is a life in which we hold nothing back. Whatever we were or may have become has now been replaced with a life that honors God, a life that allows others to see Jesus through us.

Are you ready for this kind of surrender? Can you honestly say that you will put everything aside for Him? If not, what’s holding you back? What is it about your life that you don’t want to give up? Ask yourself, “is this thing more important to me than Jesus?” If you had to choose between that which you do not wish to give up and Jesus, what would your choice be? That may seem overly harsh or dramatic, but Jesus did not consider such a choice too great or dramatic for us. Are we followers of Christ or merely observers? Are we imitators or admirers?

We must each choose which path we will follow in life. If we should choose to follow Christ, the path is too narrow to allow baggage of any kind. That is why Jesus tells us we’ll have to give it all up and place it on Him. Only He is strong enough to shoulder the load on such a narrow way. Are we willing to surrender everything we have, all that we are in order to follow Jesus on the road He travels? The choice is ours, but it must be made. Are you ready to surrender every area of your life to Him? If not, why not? Will you remain a wishful admirer of Jesus or are you ready to imitate Christ in all you do? He demands true and total surrender; what is your response?


Preparing to Serve

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Last week we talked about not waiting around for the perfect moment to start serving Christ (see, “Life is Not a Bus Stop”). There is a flip side to this coin as well: we must be prepared to serve. If you want to help the homeless, it’s rarely a good or effective idea to head downtown and simply start handing out hotel keys. You need to understand the environment and the mentality of those you wish to serve. Jesus told us to be shrewd (Matthew 10:16) in our dealings with the world, so we need to be wise in our decisions, and utilize the gifts with which we have been entrusted.

As with any venture in life, you must prepare for success before you can achieve it. Achievement rarely falls into your lap, but rather is the result of diligence and hard work. In the above scenario, before you start a ministry to the homeless, you need to study everything you can lay your hands on that pertains to homelessness. You need to understand the psychology of the citizens of the streets and learn the rules that govern them. Pray, study, pray, read, pray; prepare your heart, mind and body for the work that lies ahead of you. Volunteer at a shelter in your city or in several cities. The point is if you are not actively engaged in the ministry for which you are gifted, you need to be preparing for the road ahead. Success comes to the diligent, and if you will prepare well, you will find great joy once your ministry begins. The goal is to glorify Christ by using the gifts He has given us. We would do well to become well versed in their usage. Someone with the gift of music doesn’t one day pick up an instrument and begin to play flawless works. No, they practice for hours on end, day in and day out. They are honing their gift, just as we all must do, regardless of what our gifts may be.

It can be easy to become discouraged during this time of sowing or practicing. It’s also easy to become frustrated when we are involved in active ministry but we aren’t seeing any tangible results. These feelings are natural. We want to glorify our King; we want to be out in the battle. It really becomes a matter of attitude. Are we seeking to glorify God or ourselves? If we truly have Christ in mind, we will patiently and positively bide our time, diligently preparing ourselves for the moment we will find ourselves thrust onto the front lines. By keeping our talents sharpened and our focus always on Jesus, we will be prepared at any moment for whatever may come our way. Remember, ministry happens every day in the interactions you have with others. Pray and study, then actively seek to apply what you have learned to your own life and in service to others. Those without Christ are always watching us, watching our attitudes. Stay positive and ready to serve Jesus at all times.

Finally, whether you are in a sowing or reaping phase, whether you are practicing or executing, do it with excellence. You represent the King and Creator of the universe. Do no shoddy work for Jesus. Remember what He gave up for you; certainly we can give no less in return! God rewards the diligent. Today’s frustration is tomorrow’s joy and triumph. Keep moving regardless of where you are in life. Take action, and do so with excellence. Read the book of Proverbs and see all the wonderful wisdom contained in that book as it pertains to diligence and work. God has uniquely gifted you for service, not for discouragement. If you will hone and use your gifts unabashedly for Him, He will use you to glorify Himself. In so doing, you will find the peace and the joy you have been seeking.

Don’t wait for divine intervention; identify and learn how to use your gifts so that you might be prepared at any moment to be the very hands and feet of God. Remember to stay focused and maintain a positive attitude when nothing seems to be working. In all you do, do it with excellence. God has supplied you with gifts for His service; He expects us to learn to use them well. God will reward those who passionately seek to serve Him. Prepare to serve, and then serve well.


Go the Extra Mile

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As Christians I believe we are called to live lives that are a cut above the rest of the world. I don’t mean to imply that we are somehow better than everyone else, but I do believe we are to act better than everyone else. We belong to no nation, but rather are citizens of the kingdom of God; this in and of itself should dictate that we be held to a higher standard.

A positive attitude will go a long way in setting yourself apart from the crowd. The world needs no more cynical, defeated individuals. We know Jesus; we have the antidote to a joyless existence! No matter how hard our struggles, we must always be mindful of the fact that Christ died for us. We also should always remember that no matter what’s going on in our lives, no matter how bad it may seem to us, there are millions in the world who are enduring worse things. You are blessed with life, and as long as you have that blessing, remember to be thankful for it and to smile! Smiling will make you feel physically and emotionally better. Smiling at someone else will have the same effect on them. Be the kind of person you enjoy being around. No matter the circumstance or conversation, always be positive and look for the good that is surely buried within the moment.

Jesus followed through on everything He said He would do. As His followers, we need to do the same. Whether the task is at work or at home, when we say we will do something, we need to see it through. Many are tempted to give up when what they are working on becomes difficult; do not be one of those people. Always complete the tasks you said you would complete, and complete it on or before the time you said that you would complete it. People are used to being let down by other people. You can differentiate yourself by simply following through for someone. Once you commit yourself to doing so, following through quickly becomes a habit. While it should be second nature to Christ-followers, seeing our tasks through will make us stand out in the world, thereby encouraging others to find out why we are different. Then we can tell them of the love of Christ and what He means to us.

In close relation to following through on what we say we will do, is doing everything we do with excellence. Always give more than is expected of you. Work a little harder or a little longer, don’t quit until the job is worthy of Christ Himself. Always do more than you are paid to do. You will gain a reputation among all who know you as someone who can be trusted and someone who everyone wants working for them! Again, attaining a reputation such as this will lead to many opportunities to share God’s love with others. Exceed expectations every single time. Jesus lived a life of pure excellence and I believe He demands nothing less from us. He has given us gifts and talents to do His work. With tools like these, how can our work be anything short of excellent?

Set yourself apart from the world as you serve others. Be humble as you do so, remembering you do what you do in honor of Jesus. Stay positive at all times, see all your tasks through to completion, and always give more than is expected of you. In so doing, you will demonstrate the difference that Christ has made in your life.