Where You Walk

Where You Walk

God created us to be in relationship with Him. But because sin has broken that relationship, Christ is the only way to be reconciled to God. From the beginning, God has called humanity to walk with Him. Have you answered His call? Have you responded to His love? Have you heeded His warnings? Where do you walk?

God’s desires for us to walk in His ways.

• Psalm 81:13 “Oh, that My people would listen to Me, That Israel would walk in My ways!
• Ephesians 4:1 I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called,

God has given the assurance of blessings for those who walk with Him.

• Psalm 128:1 Blessed is every one who fears the LORD, Who walks in His ways.
• James 1:25 But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.

He has also assured the destruction of those who don’t walk with Him.

• Psalm 37:1-2 Do not fret because of evildoers, Nor be envious of the workers of iniquity. 2 For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, And wither as the green herb.
• Philippians 3:18-19 For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: 19 whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame—who set their mind on earthly things.

God is not going to force you to walk with Him – it takes dedication and desire on your part.

• Psalm 119:101 I have restrained my feet from every evil way, That I may keep Your word.
• Hebrews 12:1 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,

But you must also ask God to empower and enable you – because we can’t faithfully walk with Him based on our own abilities and aspirations.

• Psalm 119:133 Direct my steps by Your word, And let no iniquity have dominion over me.
• 1 Peter 4:11 If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

The more we walk with God, the more we reflect His character. Although we will never be God, our goal is to be like Him.

• Leviticus 19:1-2 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Speak to all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say to them: ‘You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy.
• Ephesians 5:1-2 Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.

Jesus Christ has made a way for sinful man to walk with God as His beloved children. Pray that God will draw you close to Himself.

Where you walk defines who you are and where you will spend eternity.

Prayer

Holy Father in Heaven, please reveal Yourself and Your love to those who are not walking with You. Help any that do not know Christ as Lord and Savior to see the truth of Your Word. Where You walk is where we need to be. I humbly and boldly pray these things in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Responding to His Word

Responding to His Word

How do you respond to the words of Jesus?

Those trying to trick Jesus marveled at His words.

• Matthew 22:18-22 But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, “Why do you test Me, you hypocrites? 19 Show Me the tax money.” So they brought Him a denarius. 20 And He said to them, “Whose image and inscription is this?” 21 They said to Him, “Caesar’s.” And He said to them, “Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” 22 When they had heard these words, they marveled, and left Him and went their way.

The multitudes who heard His teachings were astonished at what He said.

• Matthew 22:31-33 But concerning the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was spoken to you by God, saying, 32 ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.” 33 And when the multitudes heard this, they were astonished at His teaching.

His disciples felt His words burning in their hearts.

• Luke 24:32 And they said to one another, “Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?”

The dead came to life in response to His command.

• John 11:43-44 Now when He had said these things, He cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth!” 44 And he who had died came out bound hand and foot with graveclothes, and his face was wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Loose him, and let him go.”

The winds ceased at His rebuke.

• Matthew 8:25-26 Then His disciples came to Him and awoke Him, saying, “Lord, save us! We are perishing!” 26 But He said to them, “Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?” Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm.

The lame walked in obedience to His words.

• Mark 2:11-12 “I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.” 12 Immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went out in the presence of them all, so that all were amazed and glorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!”

Now He is speaking to you.

• Matthew 11:28-30 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

What burden(s) are you carrying – habitual sin, legalism, guilt, shame, hypocrisy, being judgmental, anger, hurt, unforgiveness, trying to work to earn God’s favor…?

He is waiting for you to respond. Talk to Him about it.

Prayer

Holy Father in Heaven, through the work of Your Holy Spirit, may all who hear the words of Jesus respond in faith. Lift the burdens off the backs of those who trust Your Son, Jesus. Draw many to Christ for the forgiveness of sin and eternal life. I ask these things in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

The Pile

The Pile

We all have a pile. You know, things that were once an integral part of our lives. Things that seemed to define who we were or who we wanted to be. The pile is made up of things that used to be hobbies, interests, passions. We had goals related to them and dedicated a great deal of time to them. But now they are just things we used to do. A few examples of things on the pile might include exercise/sports equipment, musical instruments, arts and crafts, outdoors equipment, books, gardening tools, woodworking tools, etc.

Sometimes, there are people on our pile. People that we couldn’t have imagined not being a part of our lives. People we opened up to, relied on, trusted, spent time with, shared our dreams, fears, secrets and frustrations with. We shared our lives with them. But now they are just someone we used to know. A few examples of people on the pile might include schoolmates, best friends, coworkers, business partners, teammates, relatives, etc.

Followers of Jesus have a pile. We put the things in our lives that dishonor our Lord on the pile. Over time, as we grow closer to Him and fill our lives with Godly things, our pile gets bigger and bigger. But we should never put people on the pile. We don’t judge; but sometimes we have to protect ourselves and/or our family and friends. So even if we have to separate ourselves from someone who can’t accept our faith in Christ and try to pull us into a life of habitual sin, we love them and pray for them. Then, if God provides the opportunity, we stay prepared to share the truth with them – we long to become brothers and sisters in Christ with them.

I have a question for those of you who have surrendered your life to Christ. Is your Bible on your pile? So about your prayer time, church attendance, evangelism, Christian fellowship, family devotions, service, giving, etc.? Have you abandoned your faith or your assurance of salvation in Christ? Are you forsaking precious parts of your walk with Christ that used to define who you are in Christ?

May it never be said of us:

• 1 John 2:19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us; but they went out that they might be made manifest, that none of them were of us.

Stand in His strength, in His truth, in His love.

• 1 Corinthians 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.
• Colossians 1:21-23 And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled 22 in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight— 23 if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister.
• Hebrews 10:23-24 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.
• 2 Peter 3:17-18 You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; 18 but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.

Examine your pile.

Reclaim those things

that keep you close to Christ and obedient to Him.

Cling to the things in your life

that and bring honor and glory to Jesus.

Prayer

Father, in the name of Jesus Christ my Lord and Savior, I ask You to help me and all Your children to endure in our faith. Give us the strength to stand strong in Christ. Give us the wisdom to discern what should be left on our pile. Embolden us to reclaim anything we have foolishly left there. I praise You for Your patience and forgiveness. Amen.

I Am An Overcomer

I Am An Overcomer

This devotion was inspired by a home Bible study I attended last week that focused on 1 John 5:1-5. Does your life reflect an appreciation for the victory you have in Christ? I have not focused nearly enough on these truths.

• 1 John 5:4-5 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. 5 Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?
• In Jesus Christ, I am an overcomer!
• I have victory over all things that previously condemned me.
• This is not about feelings – this is about the truth of God’s Word and the reality of my victory in Christ.

• 1 Peter 4:10-11 As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. 11 If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.
• Knowing that I am a Spirit-filled overcomer changes everything about my life.
• My Desires
• My Attitudes
• My Thoughts
• My Decisions
• My Words
• My Actions
• The present realities of my sinful human nature, the fallen world I live in, and the schemes of the enemy may challenge me; but, the love of Christ compels and protects me!
• His Word and His Spirit empower and enable me to bring Him glory by how I live my life.

• Romans 8:1-2 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.
• Christ paid the debt for my sin when He died on the cross. He secured my eternal life with Father God when He rose from the dead.
• Each and every moment of my life should be a celebration of who I am in Christ.
• I have complete and eternal victory in Him – I am no longer a slave to sin and death.

• Matthew 7:16-17 You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? 17 Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.
• The fruit in my life bears witness to the transformation of my life through Jesus.
• In the battles that rage between my spirit and my flesh, sometimes I fall short. But the war has already been won and the victory is absolute – Jesus never falls short.
• My assurance is based on His power, perfection and promises.

• Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.
• Knowing the perfect love of God in Christ has brought me joy and peace.
• Learning patience from Christ has taught me the value of morality and virtue.
• Living a life of faithfulness to Christ has wrought in me humility and self-control.

• Hebrews 10:14 For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.
• The longer I walk with Him the greater my desire to be like Him.
• The greater my desire to be like Him the more I surrender to Him.
• The more I surrender to Him the more I appreciate my righteous position before the Father because of Him.

I am His - He is working on me and in me.

He has done the work for me – I must live for Him!

Prayer

God of all creation, I praise You for the work you have done in my life. In Your love, grace and mercy, in Jesus Christ, You transformed me into an overcomer! Please help all Your children to see, embrace, celebrate and live out who they are in Jesus. Draw the lost and condemned to the light of Christ and victory over sin and death in Him. I praise You and pray to You in the name above every name – Jesus. Amen.