Even If i Walk Alone

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

I John

Days of Trouble

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What are we to make of this world today? Political unrest, divisiveness, viruses, and no one seems overly happy. What side should we take? What is our duty as Christians? Our duty is the same as it always has been. We are to seek God and His righteousness (Matthew 6:33). James told us to keep ourselves unentangled with the world (James 1:27). The Apostle John told us we must not love the things of this world (I John 2:15).

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I think one reason we feel such stress and frustration today is that we had gotten overly comfortable with the world. Now that the world is changing, we’re upset because our focus has been on the world instead of Jesus. He never changes. If we had kept our focus on Him, much of what is occurring in the world today would not phase us.

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No Exceptions

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One thing I love about the Bible is also the same thing that makes me uncomfortable. It’s the fact there are no exceptions to the commandments of God. We don’t get to rationalize about our sin to help us feel better about ourselves. Jesus said He is the way, the truth, and the life, and the only way to have eternal life (John 14:6).

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He didn’t say He was a way; He said He was the way. No exceptions. Jesus didn’t leave any loopholes when He said if we love Him, we will obey Him. He didn’t say we will often obey. He simply said we would obey Him. The implication is we will spend our lives living in obedience to Christ. No exceptions.

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Hate the World

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I hate the world today. It’s about time, I suppose. As long as we are enjoying the things of this world, it’s difficult, if not impossible, to devote ourselves to the Lord. Most people I’ve talked to think the era they grew up in was the best, and it’s all been downhill from there. My father grew up in the ’50s and swears it was the best time in history to grow up.

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I grew up in the ’80s, and I’d strongly propose those were the best of times. I can’t imagine anyone growing up in our current environment looking back and saying it was the best time to be alive. That’s very sad, but also very hopeful for the Church and Kingdom of Jesus Christ.

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Humility

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Most of us recognize how humble Jesus was when He walked on earth. Here was a man who never sinned, yet He didn’t avoid those who did. He was the very Son of God and He subjected Himself to the limitations of this world. Jesus had every right to boast about who He was. But He never did. It was in His authority to command everyone to serve Him, but He didn’t.

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Instead, Jesus served those who should have been serving Him. It didn’t matter. The only thing that mattered was they experienced the love of God and came to know Him. Now I remind you as His disciples, we are to walk just as Jesus walked (1 John 2:6).

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Leave Your Nets

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When you read about Jesus calling His disciples, it’s easy to overlook some important details because of the familiarity of the stories. Remember, the Bible is for savoring, not for speed-reading. Peter and Andrew were brothers and fishermen. Fishing was their life. It’s how they put food on the table and how they spent their days. James and John were also fishermen, in business with their father. Fishing wasn’t just a job for them. It was the family business.

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And yet, when Jesus passed by and called these men to follow Him, Matthew is explicit in recording that each of them immediately left their nets, boats, and family behind. They did not hesitate, and they did not look back. Jesus called, and they obeyed. Would you leave your nets to follow Jesus?

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