Even If i Walk Alone

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

Luke

What Scares You?

by

What scares you? Fear is the great killer of love and hope because we know perfect love casts out all fear (1 John 4:18). Each of us who have chosen to follow Christ has been called to love. We love because Christ first loved us (1 John 4:19; John 13:34). Every waking hour should be spent loving others as Christ did. The reality is we shy away from expressing such love.

what scares you,fear,faith,1 John 4:18,love casts out fear,1 John 4:19;love because jesus first loved you,Luke 22:44,sweat blood,sweating blood,1 John 4:4,greater is he that is in you

image © Myst via Fotolia

We’re afraid of what others might think or what loving others might cost us. It’s one thing to love your spouse or children; it’s quite another to love a homeless man, gang member, terrorist, or someone in prison. When the going gets tough, we are quick to hit the exit door.

[Read more…] about What Scares You?

Church on Auto-Pilot

by

Recently I was reading a challenge I thought was so good I had to pass it along. The challenge was to think of all the ways you attend church on auto-pilot. Most tend to park in the same spot, sit in the same seat, and talk to the same people. We don’t even think about it. So, what could you do differently next week to step out of your comfort zone and do something you have to think about rather than coast on auto-pilot?

church on auto-pilot,going through motions,Revelation 3:16,vomit you out of my mouth,lukewarm,mediocre,mediocrity,Luke 9:57-62,foxes have holes,foxes have dens,church,discipleship

image © Stuart Monk via Fotolia

What if you reached out to someone you’ve never met and struck up a conversation? What if you gave up your favorite parking spot so someone else could have the shade? Most of all, what if we made the point of our worship all about Jesus?

[Read more…] about Church on Auto-Pilot

Renounce Everything

by

When doing my usual daily reading of something from A.W. Tozer, I came across a question which pierced my soul: “Can you renounce everything which is inconsistent with the glory of God and the highest good of your fellowmen?” I wish I could say I immediately responded ‘yes’ without hesitation, but this wasn’t the case. I try and live a simple life but still find myself living in absolute luxury compared to almost all the other 7 billion people roaming this planet.

renounce everything,tozer,aw tozer,a.w. tozer,commitment,discipline,discipleship,God's Kingdom,Kingdom of God,priorities,Luke 9:57-62,foxes have dens,Luke 14:25-27,must hate mother,John 16:33,you will have trials,Matthew 7:13-14,narrow gate

image © F8studio via Fotolia

By American standards, I’m not rich. It’s worse than that; I’m comfortable. Comfortable; what a horrible word in this context. Jesus has called his followers to a lot of things, but comfort was never one of them (Luke 9:57-62; Luke 14:25-27).

[Read more…] about Renounce Everything

Stop Being Busy

by

Eugene Peterson once said, “Busyness is an illness of spirit.” I think not only is busyness an illness of the spirit, but busyness will also cause your spirit to be ill. Given this, I would implore you to stop being busy! I’m not certain when being busy became a badge of honor, but it seems like it has been in my lifetime. I hear my father tell stories of people sitting on porches and just talking with their neighbors, passing the days as if they had all the time in the world.

stop being busy,busyness,Eugene Peterson,message translation,discipleship,priorities,mission,Matthew 28:19-20,great commission,Luke 10:2,workers are few

image © estradaanton via Fotolia

Previous generations seemed to put a lot more stock in building relationships than we do today. And no, Facebook and WhatsApp do not count in this context. I’m talking about deep, personal, and lifelong relationships. I believe our obsession with busyness is killing our ability to forge true relationships with others.

[Read more…] about Stop Being Busy

We Need a Revival

by

I am currently going a through a Bible reading plan that guides me through thirty-one days of praying for my nation. It pains me to see how far the country in which I live is drifting from God. To be clear, I don’t believe there is any such thing as a “Christian Nation” (for an excellent, in-depth study on this topic, see “The Myth of a Christian Nation” by Gregory A. Boyd). The history of my country is filled with atrocities which should never be associated with the name of Christ. Still, growing up in the 70’s and 80’s, it seemed my Country had a far greater reverence and respect for God. My parents feel their generation was even more dedicated to God, and I do not doubt this to be true.

we need a revival,we need revival,revival,aw tozer,tozer,a.w. tozer,Matthew 10:39,anyone who loses his life,stewardship,passion,mission,Philippians 3:7-8,consider everything loss,Luke 14:26-33,count the cost,Matthew 8:18-22,foxes have holes,Matthew 28:18-20,great commission

image © Rawpixel.com via Fotolia

Even in the 1960’s, A.W. Tozer made this comment: “We need a revival! We need a revival of consecration to death, a revival of happy abandonment to the will of God that will laugh at sacrifice and count it a privilege to bear the cross through the heat and burden of the day. We are too much influenced by the world and too little controlled by the Spirit.”

[Read more…] about We Need a Revival