Even If i Walk Alone

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

humility

Is It What You Expected?

by

How long have you been a Christian? No matter your answer, I have a question for you: “Is it what you expected?” When you came to acknowledge Christ as your Lord and Savior, what did you imagine would be the result? Increasingly, I see Christians encouraging someone down on their luck by pulling random verses out of context and assuring those people that God has big plans for them if they will only trust in Jesus.

is it what you expected,surrender,obedience,mission,discipleship,humility,salvation,love,peace,rest,health,wealth,prosperity gospel,success

In one sense, those well-wishers are correct. God has big plans for everyone who calls on His name. He plans to give them eternal life and bring them into His presence forever. There couldn’t be a bigger plan. But I know this isn’t what these people have in mind. Too many so-called Christians today have believed the lie that believing in Jesus is the way to success, health, and wealth in this life now.

[Read more…] about Is It What You Expected?

God Knows

by

The fact God knows what we’re going through is comforting. It’s amazing to realize He knows each of us by name. But too often, we leave our thoughts of what God thinks about us there and go no deeper. In Psalm 139, David makes it crystal clear that God is intimately aware and present in every moment and aspect of our lives. His presence is an overwhelming fact, not just a trite bumper sticker.

God knows,humility,surrender,commitment,discipleship,holiness,love,fear

There is nothing we think, say, do, or desire that catches Him off-guard or unaware. He knew it before we ever spoke, thought, did, or desired it. While this is an enormous comfort, it should also fill us with a fear of how unholy and unworthy we are to be in His presence, much less receive His help and salvation.

[Read more…] about God Knows

Getting Lazy

by

Yet we all know we can get lazy in our eating, exercise, and work habits. More devastating than any of those areas, though, is when we find ourselves getting lazy spiritually. It does us no good to be disciplined in physical matters if we’re not going to apply the same or greater discipline to eternal things.

getting lazy,God's Kingdom,commitment,discipleship,discipline,humility,integrity,mission,promises,integrity,Kingdom of God

I’m not only referring to the well-known spiritual disciplines of prayer and Bible study, but also the less obvious areas, like our relationships with family and friends, personal integrity, and service to others. It doesn’t take much to knock us off our game in these areas, which hinders our witness to the world, and disrupts our relationship with the Lord.

[Read more…] about Getting Lazy

What Does Good Friday Demand of You?

by

What Does Good Friday demand of you? Do the events of two thousand years ago have any bearing on your life today? The purpose of this brief discussion is not to convince you they crucified a real historical figure named Jesus on the cross. Entire books have been written proving the historicity and authenticity of Jesus’s death and resurrection.

Good Friday,surrender,commitment,discipleship,salvation,crucifixion,humility,God's Kingdom,what does Good Friday demand of you,Kingdom of God

My assumption is if you are reading this, you already believe Christ died on your behalf to save you from the eternal consequences we all deserve. I want to focus on what Good Friday demands from the lives of all who believe. The cross of Jesus is more than a historical fact, more than just another moment in time. No, the cross of Jesus demands many things from us.

[Read more…] about What Does Good Friday Demand of You?

Revival

by

Much is being said and written about revival these days. To be certain, our countries, churches, and families desperately need revival. But what does that mean? How does revival manifest itself in the life of a believer? The first thing we know is it won’t look like what the world tells us it looks like. I’d love to give you the Biblical definition of revival, but the fact is, the word is not in Scripture. The principles of revival are there, but God’s Word never speaks of “revival”.

revival,commitment,humility,surrender

We do see Jesus admonishing the Church at Ephesus to return to their first love (Revelation 2:4-5) and instructing the Church at Smyrna to hold fast to the joy they once knew in serving Him (Revelation 2:9-11). We also have the words of Peter repeating the Lord’s instruction to be holy as God is holy (1 Peter 1:15-16). From a biblical perspective, then, the best definition of revival for me is to return to Christ with your whole heart, maintain the joy you once knew in following Him, and live a life worthy of His holiness.

[Read more…] about Revival