Even If i Walk Alone

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

Deuteronomy

Strangers and Aliens

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Those who exercise the boldness and courage to proclaim the truth of the Gospel will face many trials in this life (John 16:33). For those who follow Jesus, that is reason enough to reject anyone preaching a message promising health, wealth, and peace. Jesus dispels that belief when He declares He did not come to bring peace, but a sword (Matthew 10:34).

We are strangers and aliens on earth, foreigners in every context and location in which we find ourselves (1 Peter 2:11; Hebrews 11:13). This world is not where we belong, and those who do belong here will do everything they can to harm and get rid of us. Life on the narrow path is going to be difficult (Matthew 7:13–14) and we should believe no one who says otherwise (2 Timothy 3:12).

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What Is a Disciple?

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Everyone who loves Jesus longs to be His disciple. If you don’t, you don’t love Him. It’s a basic litmus test you can use for yourself. As in any conversation, it is vital that we define our terms. What one person thinks it means to be a disciple might differ from someone else’s thoughts.

Of course, we don’t have to rely on the opinions of any fallible human to determine what it means to be a true disciple of Jesus. God’s Word reveals what genuine discipleship looks like. So, what is a disciple? God’s opinion is the only one that matters, so let’s see how He defines it within the pages of His Holy Word.

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Your One Life

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God has given you this one life to live for Him. What are you doing with such a wonderful gift? Are you spending it honoring Him, using every moment to glorify Him? Or are you squandering the precious little time afforded to you in selfish and self-glorifying ways? How you live your one life will dictate where you spend eternity (Galatians 6:7–8).

Looking back over my life, it’s nauseating to see how much time I let slip by and how many opportunities I didn’t seize to make much of Jesus. I think that’s true for most of us. As we mature in our faith, we can’t help but look back sometimes and grieve over the wasted hours and years. We can do nothing about the life that has passed, but we can live the rest of our days in better and more faithful obedience to our King.

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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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God’s Call to Holiness

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God’s call to holiness is not optional for any believer. Holiness is the standard God set for us in the beginning and continues to expect from us (Leviticus 19:2; 1 Peter 1:15–16). When we love the Father, we will desire to do what pleases Him because we all want to be counted like Paul when we die (2 Timothy 4:7).

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We all want to run the race well and hear Jesus speak the words, “Well done, my good and faithful servant; enter into my rest” (Matthew 25:21). We dare not approach Heaven with stained garments uncleansed by the sacrificial blood of Christ (Hebrews 10:10). Sanctification always follows true repentance, so if we aren’t concerned with holiness, it is hard to conceive of our repentance as genuine.

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