Even If i Walk Alone

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

I Corinthians

Long-Distance Eyes

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Are you feeling unsteady these days? It’s easy to feel disillusioned by everything you thought you knew when it smacks up against reality. There is so much discontent, fear, hatred, and uncertainty in our world that it takes everything we’ve got to not allow it to swallow us whole. It can be especially disconcerting for those of us who profess to trust Christ to provide everything we need, yet still have to live in a world that is coming apart at the seams.

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How can we hold fast to our faith when evil seems to win victory after victory? It’s easy to lose hope when our focus is on the here and now. Instead of eyes of immediacy, we need long-distance eyes to look beyond our current circumstances and into the eternal life that waits for us.

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Stamp Eternity on My Eyes

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The great preacher, Jonathan Edwards, is credited with the quote, “Lord, stamp eternity on my eyeballs.” Whether he said those exact words, his commitment to living with an eternal perspective is evident in his preaching and many of his famous resolutions. This describes how we should live every day of our lives. There is nothing on earth worthy of our attention.

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Nothing here lasts, and we’ll take nothing from this place when we leave (1 Timothy 6:7). Our every thought, word, and deed should be with our eyes toward Heaven. Think of how your life might change if you decide to pray with Edwards, “Lord stamp eternity on my eyes.” I believe such a prayer is consistent with the teaching of the New Testament and worthy of our consideration.

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Isn’t That Fascinating?

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One of my most influential mentors had a unique way of looking at the inevitable challenges and obstacles life brings our way. While my reaction might be one of discouragement or despair, he would look at the situation and say, “Isn’t that fascinating?” He didn’t fret or get upset, but would sit marveling in fascination. While a little cliché to say, he always saw opportunity within the dilemma. I admit to never mastering this mindset, which in some ways resembles the Apostle Paul’s admonition to rejoice in all things (Philippians 4:4).

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Just as joy can be difficult to find amid tragedy, fascination is often the furthest thing from my mind when looking at the chaos of our world. But these times are fascinating in both their level of depravity and departure from the perfect life God intends for us to live. We all will do well to shift our perspective as we look toward the future.

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A Royal Priesthood

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In Peter’s first epistle, the apostle points out we are a chosen people, set apart to do the work of Christ (1 Peter 2:9). There’s something else tucked into that verse that doesn’t get a lot of attention. Peter states that believers in Christ become part of a royal priesthood. When was the last time you looked in the mirror and reminded yourself that you are a priest?

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If you are like me, the word priest conjures up either a monk from the Middle Ages or a man wearing a black robe in a Catholic church. Neither image is compelling to me. When we look at the role of a Biblical priest, however, and realize we are to carry out similar duties, things get exciting.

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More Than Emotions

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Modern churches place an enormous amount of focus on the emotional experience of being a Christian. Worship teams craft songs and services to evoke an emotional response from those listening. Sermons focus on engaging stories rather than the plain truth of Scripture. And I don’t know about you, but it’s a rare day when my mailbox (physical and virtual) doesn’t find an impassioned plea for help from some ministry or another.

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Social media adds to the play for our emotions by hyping the latest heresy or cause to which the church should be attending. Humans are emotional beings and Christians are no exception. But following Jesus involves more than emotions. Jesus said we must love Him not only with all our heart (emotion) but also with all our strength, mind, and soul (Mark 12:30).

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