Even If i Walk Alone

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

Discipline

The Real Test

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For a couple of decades, my passion was playing the drums. Like many kids of my era, I dreamed of playing on the biggest stages and touring the world. During those days, my musical hero was Neil Peart, the drummer and lyricist for the band Rush. I modeled everything I did after him, and his writing continues to influence my style to this day. While there are no indications Neil had a relationship with Jesus, he said and wrote many wise things that can apply to our Christian walk.

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I was reminded recently of something he once said: “The real test of a musician is playing live.” In an age where there is no shortage of teaching and preaching, it is important to remember the real test of a disciple comes from how we live. As James, the brother of Jesus said, we must be doers not just hearers of the Word (James 1:22).

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What Are You Thinking About?

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In Philippians 4:8, the apostle Paul instructs us to think about things that are true, honorable, pure, just, lovely, commendable, worthy of praise, and of moral excellence. What are you thinking about? Does it match up well with the list Paul gave us above? If it does, you are doing better than I am. If we’re being honest, most of the thoughts we have are about ourselves: our comfort, pleasure, entertainment, and safety. These are hardly noble thoughts.

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To be self-serving is the opposite of behaving honorably. Selfishness stands in direct opposition to every item on that list. Selfishness is the natural offshoot of pride, and prideful people have no place in the Kingdom of God. Consider where all the prideful angels are today. Their fall is a warning beacon for each of us.

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What’s Next?

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Sooner or later, every crisis ends. We will then face the question of, “What’s next?” It’s an important question. While God wants and wills only good for His people, He also uses what the enemy intended for evil to mold us into someone better and stronger. As we emerge from trials, we will be changed. Life will be at once different and familiar.

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If we use the time of crisis to draw closer to God, we will be better equipped to handle the next obstacle life puts in our path. But if we cower in fear, embracing our anxiety while we think the world is caving in around us, we will be weaker and poorly equipped to deal with what’s next.

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Marching Orders

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We live in fascinating times. Watching the panic, surfing the ever-changing waves of information, and dealing with the very real fall-out from the situation at hand can rattle even the most stable. Nothing would be easier than to allow ourselves to get off our mission for God. There’s a rule in the military: until they receive a new order, the last order given stands. And so our marching orders have not changed.

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Jesus told us to go into all the world telling others about Him (Matthew 28:19-20). He said to love our neighbor as much as we love ourselves (Matthew 22:36-40). And He said to love and serve Him with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength (Mark 12:30-31). These are our marching orders, and the insanity of the times we live in do not overrule them.

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Closer to God

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Based on your daily routines and actions, where can you expect your walk with Jesus to be in five years? Growth doesn’t just happen. It must be intentional. Without a plan to draw closer to God, you’ll be – at best – about as close in five years as you are today. Is that okay? Do you think the status quo is what God envisioned when He created you with a unique blend of skills, passions, and talents?

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The Psalmist says we are all remarkably and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14). If God took such care in crafting who He knew you could become, don’t we owe it to Him to fulfill our potential for His glory? God gave His very best for us. How can we give Him anything less?

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