You are currently browsing the monthly archive for September 2023.
He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked. I John 2:6 (NKJV)
Jesus walked with purpose. When one walks with purpose, they neither jog or saunter. They are not wandering around, but have a purpose in mind, a destination to get to and a mission to accomplish. Those who walk with purpose are seldom distracted by their surroundings. Throughout the gospels, especially in the book of Mark, verbs define Jesus’ life.
Jesus also walked with passion. His purpose was fueled by the passion he had for his mission. And people were his mission. His passion for people empowered him to love them. His passion attracted those who lived a lifestyle completely opposite of what he stood for. His passion for others rose above politics, ethnicity, and gender.
Jesus walked with wisdom. He knew what he stood for. He knew what his father, Jehovah God, wanted from him. He did what needed to be done, while at the same time taking care of himself physically, spiritually and emotionally.
Abiding in Christ means that we walk with passion, purpose, and wisdom through the power of the Holy Spirit.
For since the world began, no ear has heard and no eye has seen a God like you, who works for those who wait for him! Isaiah 64:4
Unrealized dreams. Unfinished work. Unmet expectations. Disappointing results. You’ve been there. We all have. Those times when, hard as we try, life doesn’t work out as planned.
Our efforts, or the efforts of others we put our trust in, turn out to be an epic fail. It’s easy to get caught up in the negative.
The voices of criticism and mockery tend to remind us of ways in which we fall short. Have you ever noticed that the harshest voices tend to come from your own mind? I do. I’m my own worst critic.
Maybe it’s time to step back and remind ourselves of what’s really important and who is really holding this all together.
Isaiah reminds us that while our human efforts may fail, the works of our God last forever. He’s never late. He’s never overwhelmed or surprised.
When we’re learn to wait on him, we’ll see his power unfold in front of us.
Ask for his leading. Wait for his timing. Act in his power.
I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. 1 Timothy 2:1
Throughout the Bible, we are commanded to pray. Prayer is the power behind our living for Jesus. It’s been said, that even atheists pray when the plane is going down!
Sad to say, I think we believe in prayer far more than we practice prayer. If we’re honest with ourselves, it’s easy to pray for loved ones, for ourselves, and maybe the occasional prayer for the stranger on the Internet.
What about people, that we know who dislike us, abuse us or ridicule us for our belief in Christ? Hard as it is, Paul challenges us to pray for them. Later on, he’ll say pray for our leaders as well. Not to pray for their demise, but to pray and intercede on their behalf, before God.
Paul urges to should pray for their good, not for their evil. and then he says something really hard. We should thank God for those in leadership no matter how godless they may seem.
Remember, Paul wrote this during one of the most cruel, godless, violent governments in the history of the world. The same government that would later have him beheaded!
Throughout history, God has proven that he can even use godless leaders to accomplish his will. Make it a habit to pray for those who are different than you. Ask the Holy Spirit’s help in knowing how to pray.
Mike Fisk & Built with Grace 