Even If i Walk Alone

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

Hebrews

Hold Your Tongue

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When someone insults you, what is your initial response? Most of us want to strike back and get even. This, of course, reveals our pride. How dare someone say anything negative about us! We don’t like to be put down, and we hate it even more when someone says something untrue about us. Our impulse is to justify ourselves and set the record straight.

When we act from a place of pride, we are not in the will of God, nor are we showing Christ to a dark and dying world. (James 4:6; Philippians 2:3-5) Jesus did not insult back when His adversaries would insult and defame Him. He held His tongue. Peter instructs us to follow the Lord’s example and to do the same. (1 Peter 2:21-23)

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Don’t Waver

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The Christian life is hard. In the best-case scenario, people will ridicule and ostracize you from social groups. (Matthew 5:10-12; 1 Peter 4:4) You will always be an outsider. (John 15:18-19; 1 Peter 2:11) Worst-case scenarios involve torture and death in gruesome manners. (Matthew 24:9; Hebrews 11:35-38) Following Jesus is not for the squeamish or fainthearted. Being a Christian isn’t for everyone. It is only for those who see Jesus as being worth any sacrifice and worthy of every kind of mockery and torture. (Luke 14:26-33; Philippians 3:7-8)

We are the few and the called, but that’s not something to be proud of. We did nothing to earn this privilege. (Ephesians 2:8-9; 2 Timothy 1:9) It is only by God’s grace that we are called to this life of service and sacrifice and ultimately to immense joy and life everlasting. (1 Peter 5:10; Titus 3:6-7) If you want to live for Jesus, take up your cross and don’t waver. (Luke 9:23-24; 1 Corinthians 15:58)

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Turn Our Eyes

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There are many beautiful things we can look at in this life. There are countless ventures we can endeavor to do. But not everything is profitable for us. (1 Corinthians 6:12; 1 Corinthians 10:23) Nothing on earth is worth longing for, because everything on earth will pass away. (1 John 2:17; 2 Peter 3:10-12) No amount of temporal happiness or pleasure is worth sacrificing the riches of eternity. (Mark 8:36-37; 2 Corinthians 4:17-18)

Like the Psalmist, we need to plead with God to turn our eyes from looking at what is worthless. (Psalm 119:37) Our gaze should ever and only be on things above, and not here on earth. (Colossians 3:1-2) Jesus is the priceless prize worth more than everything in this world combined. (Philippians 3:7-8; Matthew 13:44-46) He alone is worth desiring, and He alone is worth your life. (Psalm 73:25-26; Philippians 1:21)

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Called to This

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There is an uncomfortable truth that is not discussed enough from our pulpits or in our conversations. Being a follower of Christ means we are going to suffer. We know it’s true because we are called to this. (1 Peter 2:21; Philippians 1:29-30) Depending on what country you live in, and for some, even in what part of your country, you will face different degrees of persecution.

But all Christians will suffer for the sake of Christ because the gospel is offensive to those who refuse to bow to the Lordship of Jesus. (1 Corinthians 1:18; 1 Peter 2:7-8) He promised us this would happen, and if it’s not happening to you yet, then it will in the days to come. (John 15:18-20; 2 Timothy 3:12) We need to be ready. (1 Peter 4:12-13; 1 Peter 3:14-15)

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One Life to Live

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This life is finite. From the moment we are born, the clock begins ticking down the seconds of our life. No matter what we do or who we become, we will live once, and then we will die. (James 4:14; Psalm 90:10) We have a responsibility to steward the days entrusted to us in a way that is worthy of Christ dying on the cross. He didn’t sacrifice Himself so we could spend our days on trivialities and pleasure.

He died so we might have life to the fullest and most holy extent. (John 10:10; 1 Peter 2:24) How dare we waste it on selfish living, lust, gluttony, and greed? (1 Peter 4:1-3; Ephesians 5:15-18) That’s grotesque. We have one life, and when it’s gone, it’s gone. Or perhaps more sobering, we have one life to live, and after this, the judgment. (Hebrews 9:27-28; 2 Corinthians 5:10) How, then, should we live?

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