Even If i Walk Alone

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

mission

Will You Give Up Your Life?

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A few days ago Al Qaeda terrorists stormed a church in Iraq and held hostage those who were gathered there. An attempt to free them by the police turned deadly and as I write this the number of those killed is fifty-two. Many more were injured and may not survive. I lead with this to remind us all that while this blog deals with the spiritual side of things, there is a very real physical element to our decision to follow Jesus. While spiritual warfare rages around us unseen, the implications of that very battle are manifested in human lives at every moment. It is said here often: following Jesus is difficult and not for the faint of heart; what perhaps isn’t said enough is that following Jesus can be deadly.

We should expect nothing less, for when we decide to follow in the footsteps of Christ we know where they eventually lead. Jesus steadfastly and purposefully walked to His own death on a cross. I hope you have not been deceived into believing that following Jesus would lead to a life of prosperity, health and the comforts of all this world has to offer. Sorry, but that’s not in the program. Jesus said that we must give up everything for His sake and that we must be willing to lay down our lives for Him, just as he did for us. He told us we would have no place to call home here on earth, and that we would face trial and persecution. None of this should come as a surprise or a shock. Yet every day Christians live in oblivious bliss, confident in their confession of faith, while blindly ignoring what it means to follow Jesus.

It is sobering to hear of the slaughter and torture of our Christian brothers and sisters. We become pensive and introspective. But for those of us who are able to do something about the injustice, we must do more that reflect; we must act. If you live in the West, you are blessed beyond all measure. We are richer than any people that have come before us. We have the ways and we have the means to come to the aid of our brothers and sisters in need. We have the technology and the know-how to proclaim the gospel to lands that forbid us to do so. We have been given so much and therefore much is required of us. We have grown comfortable and lazy in our homes and cities. We have lost the stomach to fight for the orphans, the windows and for justice. Now is the time to must rise up and fight for the name of Jesus. We must take a stand and proclaim His love and His message to all peoples, regardless of the cost to our own lives. If we are not willing to forsake everything, to lose our very lives, then how dare we call ourselves followers of Christ?

These are not easy words, but they also are not new. Look again at what Jesus told us to do. We are to go into all the world to teach others about Him. Yet two thousand years after He gave this command, a third of the world still has never heard His name or experienced His love. What excuse do we have for this? We are not doing enough. Christians around the world are giving their lives for the sake of continuing His mission, and we in the West are content to build buildings and insulate ourselves from all that is happening around us. God forgive us.

What are we to do? Pray diligently and confess our apathy. Weep before God, acknowledge our weakness and beg for the courage to run the race He has set before us. We travel a road that leads to physical death but spiritual life. We must not waver; the mission is too important. Too many have not heard, and it is up to us to tell them; if not us, then who? If not now, then when? We who bear the blood of Jesus must not shy away from shedding our own blood for the sake of His kingdom. The responsibility is ours, and it is great. Together we must carry our cross into the world to continue the mission of Christ. We must not grow weary, because we cannot fail.

On Being Extraordinary

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If you are like me, you aren’t content to simply follow Jesus; you want to do it in a big way and live a life that brilliantly reflects the love of God. We want to be extraordinary. Following in the footsteps of Christ is a very difficult task that at times seems nearly impossible. How then could we ever hope to live a life that goes above and beyond that to which He has called us? I was listening to one of my mentors this morning, the late Jim Rohn, and he said that the key to being extraordinary was to do ordinary things extraordinarily well. You’ve probably heard that in some form before, but the wisdom in this advice is quite sound. We don’t need to be superstar performers or super spiritual ascetics to live our lives way beyond measure. We simply need to do the little things we can do with great care and enthusiasm, in ways that exceed the wildest expectations of others.

Sometimes simply going about our day with a smile on our faces will be far beyond what anyone expects. We live in a dour, cynical world and when someone favors us with a smile it is often unexpected and always appreciated. Think back to the last time a stranger gave you the gift of a friendly smile; did it not lift your spirit in an inexplicable manner? This is such a small task, one that anyone can accomplish, yet it can have such a profound impact on not only the one to whom you give the gift, but also on your own disposition. Smiling releases endorphins and serotonin, our built in natural wonder drugs that make us feel happier and more relaxed. A calm, vibrant person becomes more naturally attractive to others and this affords us the opportunity to both reflect and share the love of Jesus with others. Simply by smiling you’ve gone from an average Christian to an evangelist; how extraordinary!

When you offer help to someone in need, don’t be content to stop at the obvious problem at hand. Show genuine love to that person, and offer to spend a few more minutes helping them with something else. How often do you have a thirty second conversation with someone and then move on, content that you have fulfilled your socially polite duties? Have you ever had the experience of saying “Good morning!” to someone and had them respond with a “Fine, thanks”? We have these pre-programmed conversations that we utilize automatically when we come across a casual acquaintance in a hallway or supermarket. What if we took the effort to disengage our auto-pilot and spend two minutes of actual conversation with that person instead of the obligatory thirty seconds? Would that person not realize that you were genuinely interested in them and perhaps eventually begin sharing their heart and struggles with you? Now you have created an opportunity to speak love into their life and help them begin a healing process that might very well lead them to devoting their life to Christ. All this takes is an additional ninety seconds of your time. By sparing ninety seconds each day to engage someone in meaningful conversation, you just might fulfill the command of Christ to make a disciple. Ninety seconds; that’s extraordinary!

Being extraordinary for Jesus is not a task that is beyond us; it is simply a matter of looking at the ordinary things we do every day, and finding ways to do them better than before. These small, incremental changes will compound to have a dramatic effect on the life you live for Christ. As you build momentum by focusing on the previously mundane aspects of your walk, you will find simply following Jesus is not enough; now you must pursue Him with an intense devotion and unbridled passion because a little of Jesus leaves you thirsting for so much more. This is a life that is far from ordinary; seek it and you will find that you can indeed be extraordinary in your service to Christ.

The End of Freewill

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The days of the easy-going Christian are numbered. The laissez-faire attitude exhibited by so many professed Christians leads not to Heaven, but to Hell. We were given the gift of freewill by our Creator with the intent that we would give it back. When we surrender to Christ, we relinquish the rights to our own ideas and individualism so that we might have the mind of Christ and be one with Him. Little children do whatever they want to obtain pleasure in life. Adults make measured, intentional steps to reach their goals. Far too many Christians are content to stay in the infancy of their faith, convinced there will be a lack of consequences. Jesus Christ did not come to this earth to be tortured and crucified so that you could say a magic prayer and then live your life in the same manner you did before you prayed. He came to redeem your soul. Redemption comes through surrender; Christ sacrificed His life for us so that in turn we could follow Him by giving ourselves away to Him. We have the far easier end of the bargain, but we still have a part we must play.

Nowhere in Scripture does it teach about the popularized “sinner’s prayer” that is taught in so many churches around the world. However, the Bible does teach that if we would be followers of Jesus then we must give up every claim to our old life. It teaches that we are to share what we have with those around us so that no one is in need. It teaches that we must lay our lives down for others just as Christ laid His down for us. What Bible have we been reading for the past couple of hundred years? The Bible says that all are called to go throughout the world teaching about Jesus and making disciples, yet few of us ever leave our neighborhoods. We write checks to give to those who apparently have some mystical calling to be missionaries. We are all missionaries; the Bible exempts no one. Jesus told us to “Go” and we simply can’t find the time because we are immersed in the shallow cultural activities of our modern societies and lives.

The church at large is in need of a massive wakeup call or we face a devastating future. Listen to the words of Jesus in Matthew 7:17-23; how many of us will come to Him on our final day, thinking we our secure in our salvation and yet be turned away in utter shock and despair when He says that He never knew us? If we do not repent now and change the way we are doing life, we may not have the opportunity to do so later. None of us is guaranteed another breath, yet we live as if we are indestructible. Look at the world around you, and what do you see? Selfish people living selfish lives convinced of their own immortality. Few give any thought to the sick and dying, the poor and hungry, or the persecuted and enslaved. We don’t want to look at those images or acknowledge our responsibility to the world. We’d rather be content to gather in our buildings once a week, break some bread, drink some juice and go home. Our commitment to the mission and calling of Jesus Christ is pathetic and we are in serious danger of being found lacking when it comes to our time of judgment.

We’ve got to wake up, and we’ve got to do it now. If we serve Christ then we must do the things He told us to do. We are covered by His blood so that we might share it with others. We must be His hands and feet to a world of death and decay. If we will not carry out His mission, then who will? It takes more than a prayer to be committed and more than good intentions to affect change in our world. Our lives are no longer our own; they belong to Jesus for the purposes of accomplishing what He determines. We are the ones responsible for bringing justice to our world. We are the bearers of His cross. This is not a charge for the faint of heart; it is a mission for those who would dare to call themselves followers of Jesus, and in so doing, to change their world. Freewill is dead; long live the will of Christ.

Are You Doing Enough?

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Am I doing enough? It’s a question I ask myself over and over again – and often! I talk about being completely sold out to Jesus, but do I myself measure up? When I close my eyes each night, can I honestly say that I have lived my life that day in the best way I possibly could to reflect the glory of God to the world around me? If I cannot answer yes, then I am haunted by the realization that my actions – or lack thereof – may have prevented someone from seeing their need for Jesus Christ. Everywhere I go, I am an ambassador for Christ and I am responsible for each soul I encounter. I don’t have the option to look the other way or pretend not to notice. I am a follower of Jesus so I am obligated to serve those in need. The fact of the matter is that we all squander opportunities and waste precious time that we should be using to touch the life of someone else. We cannot live lives of perfection, but we should never stop striving to do so.

Every day of our lives must be spent in service to God. That is what it means to be a follower of Jesus. We are to be devoted to His causes and His mission; nothing else matters. Our dreams and ambitions must be pursued only insofar as they can be used to bring others to Christ. He has given us skills and talents in a combination that is unique to each person. These gifts are to be used for the sole purpose of reflecting His love and directing people to Jesus. We are not to pursue piling up money unless it is for the sole purpose of giving it to others in need. We are not to engage in a life of travel unless it for the sole purpose of spreading the love of Jesus around the world. It is your life and your passion, but they are to be used for His purpose. When you give your life to Jesus, you give up your claim to everything. From that point forward, everything you do, every word you say, is pledged to be for His glory. It goes without saying that we will stumble and miss the mark at times; it also goes without saying that we must quickly get up and set about our pursuit anew. His mission must be our passion. If it is not, we need to do some very serious soul searching to determine if we are truly His follower or not.

Being a Christian, a true disciple, is not a matter of saying a certain prayer and then just coasting for the rest of our days on earth. Where you spend eternity depends on whether you truly love and reflect Jesus to the world. By truly loving and being devoted to Christ, we are covered by His grace. It is our faith in His grace that will cause us to follow wherever He leads and to do the things He told us to do. Scripture tells us that faith without works is dead, and works without faith is futile (James 2:14-26; Hebrews 11:6). Without both faith and works, we will not see the gates of Heaven. Again, this isn’t about a one-time prayer, it is about a life-long commitment. If we have been blessed with money and don’t care for the poor, I believe Scripture is clear that we will not see Heaven (Ezekiel 16:49; Matthew 25:31-46). We don’t have brilliant careers because we are blessed by God; we have brilliant careers so we can bless others. We must never forget our purpose in life. Our purpose is God’s mission.

How about you? Do you, like me, get a sick feeling in the pit of your stomach when reflecting on the way you have lived out your devotion to Christ? Do you feel like I do, that you could be doing more, that you aren’t living a life that fully reflects His glory? We have work to do and time is running out; there is not a moment to lose. Reflect and reevaluate the way you are living your life. Are you doing all you can?

Being On Mission for Christ

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It has often been stated both here and elsewhere that one of the primary challenges facing Christianity today is that we are known less for what we are for than for what we are against. Certainly there are things from which we who follow Christ must refrain. We should not engage in activities that do not mirror the love, beauty and glory of God. We were created and called to reflect Him, so any time we spend doing things that are antithetical to God, we are living outside of His will for our lives. Being a positive sort of guy, I’d like to concentrate more on the things for which we should be known. Frequent readers will recognize that we have covered much of this before, but each of us needs to constantly remind ourselves of why we are here. If we could keep our mission in the forefront of our mind, we would not waste so many hours asking questions like, “Why am I here?”, and “What should I do with my life?”

The reason we are on this earth is to glorify God by doing the things He told us to do (these are the things for which Christians should be known) in a way that reflects His love by serving others. We must all be seeking ways each day to help out someone in need, whether that means offering a helping hand, a kind word or some hard-earned cash. All of us have something to offer in service to another, and it is our duty to give what we have. There are no exemptions in life for those who are committed to following Jesus.

There are attributes we must model as individuals to reflect the glory of God. We are told to be humble, gentle and patient (Ephesians 4:2). Our lives should be marked by truthfulness and dignity (Ephesians 4:25, 28). Any words that come from our lips should be uplifting and positive, spoken to help strengthen and encourage others (Ephesians 4:29, 31-32). Christ modeled each of these traits even under intense persecution; we certainly should do no less within our comfortable lives.

Then there are the things we must do among our fellow believers. We should always be focused on keeping unity within the Church (Ephesians 4:3). Our lives should be marked by peace and not strife, because we all serve the same God (Ephesians 4:3-6). We have enough trials being thrust upon us by those who do not share our beliefs; we don’t need to add insult to injury by piling on from within our own body. Petty arguments have no place among followers of Jesus. We must remain focused on the mission and not allow ourselves to get caught up in things that have no eternal value.

Finally we are instructed to move outside of ourselves and our inner circles and serve the world around us. We are to give from our excess so that none goes without food, shelter or clothing. A special emphasis is required towards orphans and widows (James 1:27) which implies those who are most vulnerable and cannot help themselves. We have enough resources within the Western church to totally eliminate hunger from this world. We have the resources to make certain that everyone has access to clean drinking water. Yet the statistics do not lie; we simply are not choosing to get it done.

Let’s begin to change the perception of Christianity throughout our world. Let’s make the argument based on what we stand for rather than on what we stand against. Every one of us has a vital role to play in this endeavor. If each of us were to start doing the things for which Christ created and commanded us to do, we would quickly revolutionize our societies. If we would simply carry on the mission of Jesus, the one to whom we all claim to be committed, we would turn our cities upside down. We are the called and chosen. We are the ones who have sworn allegiance to the King. Will we now take up our crosses, follow Him, and change the world?