Even If i Walk Alone

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

Matthew

A Scared World

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When the modern world seems overwhelming, it’s always good to look back on the giants from our past for a little wisdom and perspective. A. W. Tozer once said, “A scared world needs a fearless church.” I’m sure there have been periods in the last couple thousand years where this was truer than today, but it is timely and necessary wisdom we should heed. At least in my lifetime, I’ve never seen the world be more scared.

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Suicide rates are climbing rapidly. Turning on the news will only leave you frightened and depressed (I recommend you turn it off!). Fear is everywhere: fear of a global pandemic, fear of rioting, fear of job loss, fear of economic ruin, fear of government… the list goes on and on. We are living in a scared world in desperate need of hope.

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But God

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While following Jesus is never easy in this world, it can seem to be when life is running smoothly. If you have a job, shelter, health, and all your needs covered, the blessings make it easy to thank God for His provision. But what about when the storms come? What happens when you lose your job, your health fails, you fall behind on your rent, and you’re uncertain how you’re going to buy groceries next week? Where is God then?

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Praising Him for your situation gets tougher when it feels like the bottom is falling out of your world. It’s in these times God’s love and provision become even more obvious. As He walks with You and provides for your needs, you realize it is all Him. Where your efforts fail, He steps in. Hope seems lost, but in ways you least expect, God provides.

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The Life of a Disciple

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Every day we must choose whether we will follow Jesus. There are so many things that pull at us as we go throughout our day. Things we enjoy, things we’d like to purchase, and various ways to relax. Life is hard, and sometimes we just want to zone out and not do anything. But this isn’t an option in the life of a disciple. We are to live our lives like that of Jesus.

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We don’t get days off, and we shouldn’t want them. Every second of our lives, time is ticking down. Time is running out to tell others about Jesus. If we don’t act today – and every day – we could be responsible for someone not hearing about Christ.

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A Higher Standard

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Maybe it’s just me. You won’t find it explicitly in the Bible, and I will be the last to add anything to the Word of God. Still, it appears it is at least implied that disciples of Jesus should live their lives held to a higher standard. After all, our model is none other than Jesus Christ. How could we help but live dramatically different lives than those around us? It’s what He did.

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We too easily surrender to the malaise of Western Christianity and forget the purpose of our lives. Our mission is to tell everyone the good news of Jesus. It’s to look after the orphans, widows, sick, impoverished, and imprisoned (James 1:27; Matthew 25:31-46). And we are to do these things with excellence (Colossians 3:23-24).

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Living in Obedience

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Because of my Scottish heritage, I think I’m biased towards Scottish thinkers and writers. One of my favorites is Andrew Murray, a minister in the 1800s. Murray was a devoted disciple who left many soul-searching and convicting books as his legacy. As I was reading some of his writing this week, I saw this: “The Father in heaven asks, requires, and expects all of His children to give Him whole-hearted and entire obedience all day long, every single day.”

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It seems like a daunting task, but then I suppose if it was easy, we would find many more joining us. If it was easy, the path would be wide instead of narrow (Matthew 7:13-14). No, following Jesus is not the easy path in life, but it is the only one worth following. And if we will brave this path, we must understand it requires our obedience to Jesus every step along the way.

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