Even If i Walk Alone

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

Discipline

Open Your Bible

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How often do you open your Bible? The only correct answer to this question is “not often enough.” I know this because, like me, if you opened it often enough, your life would not resemble what it looks like today. The Word of God is unstoppable, inexhaustible, and transforms us to the core of our beings. (Hebrews 4:12; 2 Timothy 3:16–17) I can say with confidence that you don’t love the Bible enough.

For that matter, you don’t love God enough. I don’t either, and it disgusts me. If you desire to follow Christ with all of your heart, soul, strength, and mind (Luke 10:27; Deuteronomy 6:5), let me ask you the same question I ask myself: where’s the proof? Can you say with a straight face and complete honesty that you are walking just as Jesus walked? (1 John 2:6)

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Don’t Love This World

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One of my favorite passages in the Bible is 1 John 2:15–17. It’s not an easy or feel-good passage. I love it because of how convicting it is and how clear it is. People love to inject their own opinions and rationalizations into the Bible and, in doing so, neuter its message and strip it of its power. This passage leaves no room for any such nonsense.

It says if we love the things of this world, we don’t love God. There are no qualifiers, no exceptions, and no loopholes. The converse shows us how to navigate this life: if we love God, we will not love the things of this world. If you want to show your love for God, don’t love this world.

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Are You Exhausted?

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Are you exhausted? Everything about our modern culture seems to drive us to unattainable goals at unsustainable speeds. The 24/7 news cycle, social media, job and familial expectations, all keep us hurtling through time with little chance of stopping to figure out where it is we’re going. Today, exhaustion is both normal and a badge of honor. If you aren’t exhausted, you must be doing something wrong or missing out.

Of course, exhaustion is nothing new. Jesus was so worn out from doing the work of His Father that He was sleeping through a terrifying storm while reclining in a boat. (Mark 4:37–38) The disciples were so tired they couldn’t stay awake to pray with Jesus just hours before His execution. (Matthew 26:40–43) There are legitimate reasons for exhaustion, and then there is the inexcusable cause of indifference.

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Unbroken

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We all like to imagine we will stand up against any persecution we face in the name of Christ. (2 Timothy 3:12) If I am ever tortured for my faith, I want to come through it unbroken, holding fast to the Word of God and the truth of His Son. (Revelation 2:10) I run through scenarios in my mind, hoping to prepare myself for the day I face such persecution in my lifetime.

Of course, none of us can ever know for certain how we will respond under such circumstances, and it’s not something most are comfortable contemplating. I suspect many would not do as well as they think they would. Watching the world continue to spiral down and the growing opposition to Christianity, it’s something we would all do well to consider. (Matthew 24:9–12)

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Urgency and Mission

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A mantra is a repeated word or phrase that exemplifies your beliefs or goals. It’s a device to keep you on track and to remind yourself of what is most important. Do you have a mantra for your life? If not, how about “urgency and mission”? Mission because the Lord has entrusted you to carry on His work, to be His hands and feet in sharing the gospel to the ends of the earth. (Matthew 28:19–20; Acts 1:8) Urgency because we know the time is short. (Romans 13:11–12)

These truths should be at the forefront of the mind of every Christian and the driving force of each of our days. (Colossians 3:2) To our shame, these are not the hallmarks of most of our lives. Since they aren’t, we must ask, are we serious about our commitment to follow Jesus? (Luke 9:62)

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