Even If i Walk Alone

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

surrender

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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Slaves to Sin

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We, all of us, are slaves to sin. We don’t often use such terminology. It’s offensive. We bristle at the suggestion we are slaves to anyone or anything. After all, we are the masters of our destiny, right? The truth is until we surrender our lives to Jesus, we are slaves to sin. The first time we indulge in sin, the first time we disobey God, we enter into slavery. Understand it is our choice. We make the choice to enslave ourselves. It’s a ludicrous truth. Why would anyone willingly subject themselves to a life of slavery?

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And make no mistake, this isn’t a play on words. I recognize slavery is a term packed with emotion and history and is not one I toss about carelessly. But Jesus Himself told us everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin (John 8:34). Those are His words, not mine. When we choose to sin, we choose to become slaves.

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Absolute Surrender

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Surrender is a word which causes mixed emotions for me. My independent and ferocious side wants to scream out, “Never! I won’t quit, won’t stop, won’t ever give in.” Surrender implies I’ve failed in some way. I didn’t complete the task or achieve the mission. I’m not one who likes to be beaten. On the flip side, surrender is the most beautiful word I know and is the aspiration of my life.

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I know I cannot win until I surrender. The mission will fail unless and until I surrender. While my prideful self resists surrender, my love for Christ demands it of me. So, in a paradoxical sense, I must refuse to surrender to ever stop surrendering to Jesus!

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Only Jesus

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There is but one answer to every problem, hurt, disease, or circumstance: only Jesus. He is either everything to you or He is nothing. Only Jesus can heal a broken heart or mend a wounded soul. Only Jesus can soothe the ache constantly gnawing inside. Despite this, few live as if it was only Jesus that mattered. He’s convenient or handy at times, but as far as our day to day lives are concerned, He tends to rather be just one more thing we’ve bolted on to our incredibly harried existence.

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I like how Frank Viola put it in his latest book, “Insurgence”. Frank writes, “Looking back, I discovered that Jesus was really just a supplement to my already busy life. Christ wasn’t the reason why I breathed. I was living for other things, even good things… but they weren’t my Lord Jesus.”

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Forsake Everything

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To be a true disciple of Jesus requires us to forsake everything. Nothing can be left on the table. Nothing can remain in our hands. I don’t think most so-called Christians get this. They’ve no doubt heard it, but living it is another matter entirely. And let’s be honest here, we probably don’t do this so well ourselves. I am thankful God looks at the attitude of our hearts over the actions of our hands. He knows we will never attain perfection until we join Him in the next life.

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What He looks for, what He longs for in us, is a relentless pursuit of learning to look like Jesus. While never an excuse to fail, as long as we are following God with all our heart, mind, strength, and soul, He will be pleased. Now back to this idea of forsaking everything…

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