Even If i Walk Alone

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

Proverbs

Comfort Zone

by

When faced with stressful and overwhelming circumstances, we all tend to pull back and retreat into what is most familiar to us. If what is most familiar and comfortable to us is sin, then we will find ourselves indulging in sinful behaviors every time our world feels like it is collapsing around us. Thus, when we most need God (as if we aren’t in constant need!), we are rebelling against Him. It’s not a good plan.

comfort zone,discipleship,passion,prayer,habits,discipline,Bible study,spiritual disciplines,stress,joy,peace

A far better plan is to instill healthy spiritual disciplines that will cause us to retreat into habits like prayer and Bible reading when our life begins tilting upside down. Solomon wrote, “As shameful conduct is pleasure for a fool, so wisdom is for a man of understanding” (Proverbs 10:23). We need to be so obsessed with God and His Word that He becomes our comfort zone.

[Read more…] about Comfort Zone

Fear God

by

Why do you fear God? Perhaps a better first question to ask is, do you fear God? Scripture commands us many times to live in the fear of God (Deuteronomy 6:13; 1 Samuel 12:24; Proverbs 9:10; 2 Corinthians 5:11; Philippians 2:12-13; 1 Peter 2:17; Revelation 14:7). So, it’s not a question of whether we should, but imperative that we must. With all the sermons teaching God is love these days, it may seem a bit out of step to be talking about fearing God. Humans do not typically fear those we love.

fear God,fearing God,fear,faith,surrender,discipleship,obedience,love,anger,wrath

But God is not just someone else we love. He is the holy, righteous, and glorious Creator of the Universe, the Lord of lords, and the King of kings. God is indeed the highest expression of love. John told us this plainly in his epistle to the Church (1 John 4:8). However, we do not serve a one-dimensional God. Every emotion is magnified and perfected in Him. Thus, jealous, zealous, and righteous anger are also part of who He is. To quote Jonathan Edwards, “… it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God”.

[Read more…] about Fear God

God Hates Sin

by

It’s been a long time since I’ve heard a popular pastor preach about the dangers and horrors of sin. I’ve heard a lot about time management, goal setting, self-improvement, favor, blessing, and healing. The past couple of years have seen a shift to a lot of messages around social justice, tolerance, and welcoming people into the church who are living in proud defiance of the Word of God.

God hates sin,repentance,love,forgiveness,sin,confession

What I don’t hear is preaching on the depravity and destruction of sin. We hear God is love and forgiveness without the context of why we need His love and forgiveness. Let us be clear in our understanding: God hates sin and so must we. If sin doesn’t repulse us and drive us to our knees in repentance, the odds are better than good you don’t know Jesus as Lord and Savior.

[Read more…] about God Hates Sin

A Meditation on Psalm 121

by

What do you do when worry overtakes you? Where do you turn? The author of Psalm 121 knew the answer. He lifted His eyes towards Heaven and knew His help came from the Lord (Psalm 121:1-2). We must never forget this truth when the troubles of life threaten to overwhelm us. The very One who made all of Heaven and the earth is an ever-present help in our times of need and distress (Psalm 46:1-3).

psalm 121,meditation,comfort,love,peace,rest,shelter,overwhelmed,fear

God never leaves or abandons us (Deuteronomy 31:6). If God is for us, no person or circumstance can stand against us (Romans 8:31-32). Jesus defeated death itself on our behalf (2 Timothy 1:10; John 11:25; Hebrews 2:14-15; Revelation 1:17-18). There is no longer a reason to fear anything. It’s difficult to feel overwhelmed when you are fearless!

[Read more…] about A Meditation on Psalm 121

A Lying Tongue

by

A lying tongue is detestable to the Lord (Proverbs 12:22). I don’t know anyone who actually enjoys lying, but I know I don’t want to meet that person. The fact is, we all lie. No one but Jesus has gone through life completely truthful. It’s sad but true. Some lie without giving much thought to it. Some do it deliberately to gain an advantage. But followers of Jesus should feel sorrowful every time a lie escapes from our lips.

commitment,discipleship,truth,lying,taming the tongue,keith green

When we lie, we break God’s ninth commandment (Exodus 20:16). That alone condemns us to hell. The first time we lie, we violate God’s law. At that moment, our sin disqualifies us from eternity in His presence. We require the shed blood of Jesus to cover our sins. No matter how well we live the rest of our lives, a single lie ruins any shot we ever had at holiness.

[Read more…] about A Lying Tongue