Even If i Walk Alone

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

John

The Myth of the Sinner’s Prayer

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I grew up in churches where an invitation was given at the end of every service. As part of the invitation, people were invited to receive Christ and were led through “the sinner’s prayer”. This prayer was holy and awesome. It was the key to the Kingdom of God, after all. While as kids you might have messed around throughout the service, you didn’t dare misbehave at this point.

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Variations of the same prayer have been around for a couple of hundred years and it persists to this day, although it’s use and invitations, in general, are far less common in churches today, especially those of the mega variety. There’s nothing wrong with saying this prayer. It’s one way to confess your need for Jesus. The problem is it’s not Biblical and it’s not enough.

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Laser-Focused

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Our lives and attention are fractured by the myriad distractions in our world. Every new technology seems designed to further demand our attention through relentless buzzes, beeps, and flashes. Society moves at an ever-quickening pace inflicting an ever-growing list of demands upon our lives. Between our jobs, families, friends, and careers, it can be hard to maintain focus on anything at all.

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We become overwhelmed and exhausted and end up medicating with drinks, pills, substances, and mind-numbing entertainment. We seek peace in whatever it takes to distract us from all the distractions! There is a better way. There is an answer to the relentless assault on our senses. We need to re-train our minds to be laser-focused. We need to stop the insanity and pursue the only One worth pursuing.

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Well Done

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I want to live a “well done” life. Jesus taught if we spent our lives using the talents and mission He gave to us for Him, when we face Him in Heaven He will say, “Well done good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:21). It is to this we should aspire. It is for those words we should spend our lives. I don’t want to live my life for Jesus in a casual or half-hearted way.

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Along with the teaching of having our lives found to be good and faithful, Jesus also gave the warning many would come to Him and He wouldn’t recognize them (Matthew 7:22-23). Despite their protests and proclamations of what they had done on His behalf, He will turn them away. They are those who did not hold fast to Christ. They wavered in their devotion.

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The Danger of Complaining

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Complaining can kill our spirits. No one likes to hear someone else complain, but we love to do it ourselves. At the heart of complaining is a victim mentality. We feel an injustice has been done to us, someone else has been given what we deserve, we didn’t get a fair shot, or perhaps we weren’t born into the right family or country or endowed with the perfect looks or talents.

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Some seem to have elevated complaining about co-workers, friends, or family to an art form. For others, it seems to be more a sport, as each successive complaint tops the previous one. Despite our fascination with complaining, nothing good will ever come from it.

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Suicide Mission

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There are places in the world today where following Jesus is basically a suicide mission. To follow Christ may mean losing your job, your home, and your children. It is not uncommon for families to react violently when one of their own gives their life to Jesus. Every day I read stories of new believers who are beaten and thrown out of their homes because of their decision to give their lives to Jesus.

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In many cultures, the family is the center of all things, and to leave the family religion brings great disgrace not only on the one leaving but on the ones they leave behind. It takes great faith and courage to follow Jesus in many countries. As their brothers and sisters in Christ, it is essential we lift these people in prayer every day.

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