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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.
Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift each of you like wheat. But I have pleaded in prayer for you, Simon, that your faith should not fail. So when you have repented and turned to me again, strengthen your brothers.Luke 22:31-32
I’d failed. My actions completely went against everything that I stood for and believed. The worst part about it is, it wasn’t just me that I hurt but those around me as well.
Have you ever failed so badly that you didn’t think you could continue on in life? Maybe it was a destroyed relationship. Maybe it was making a decision that cost you your job or career. Maybe it was living a double life and the hidden part was revealed.
One of my favorite Bible characters is Peter. A close friend of Jesus, he was given every opportunity to be a strong leader. Yet with everything that he had going for him, Peter failed Jesus miserably.
But that’s not the end of the story. Jesus warned Peter that he would fail him. Jesus is never surprised by our failures.
Even though Jesus knew Peter would fail, he made Peter a promise. He promised Peter that when (not if) he returned, Jesus had a place for him in the kingdom. By doing so, Jesus made a statement concerning Peters value.
You see, our value is never placed on our ability to live for Jesus. Our value comes because of what Jesus does for us.
Being sifted like wheat hurts. It can leave lasting scars. But being sifted, like wheat also means the stuff we don’t need, the chaff is removed, and the most important part of us is preserved.
Don’t allow your defeats to determine your destination. Your value is not in your failures, but in your Savoir. He’s praying for you, and he has the power to restore you, so you can be the best that you can be.
For when we died with Christ we were set free from the power of sin. Romans 6:7
I used to work at a local convenience store. One of the things this store prided itself on was hot, fresh coffee. In order to assure customers this was true, a timer would go off every 30 minutes. This was our cue as employees to head back to the coffee area, check the product and turn off the timer.
I no longer work there, but frequent the store often and, on occasion, will be there when the timer goes off. Whenever that timer goes off (at this store or any of the others in the chain) my mind tells me to check the coffee and turn off the timer! Then, I remind myself that I’m no longer answerable to that call. It has no authority over me. I’m free!
This is a simple example of sin in our lives. Before we accepted Christ as Lord and Savior we acted a certain way, used certain words and involved ourselves in certain activities.
Once we accepted Christ, and began growing in His word through personal study, and corporate worship/teaching, we began to realize that some of the words, actions and activities we involved ourselves in didn’t please God and weren’t a good example to the world around us.
Because we love Jesus, and because our love should drive us to following His word, our desire is to change. But, if you haven’t noticed, there’s a problem.
We are still tempted to use language that doesn’t build others up. We gossip, curse, lie and stretch the truth (which is really a lie by the way).
Our minds take us to places and thoughts we know displease our Savior, and often our bodies follow!
We doubt and worry even though we know God’s promised to see us through every adversity.
We still enjoy certain activities even though we realize this isn’t a place we should be hanging out at because we bear the name of Jesus.
It’s like that crazy timer at the convenience store. We hear the call and have a choice to make. Do we respond or remove ourselves from the situation.
The bad news is, as long as we are alive we will be attacked by the cursed timer, calling us to the old life.
The good news is that through the Holy Spirit we have the power to resist the call. It may not come all at once. It may be a struggle that hounds you for a long time. But through Jesus, victory is yours. Keep trying.
Don’t let failure discourage you, even the best of Jesus followers struggle. He’s willing and ready to forgive. He’s more than able to give you the power to change those habits, those words and the desire to take part in those activities.
Through Jesus you are free!
Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. 1 John 2:15
“FOMO”
If you aren’t up on the latest slang terms, ‘FOMO’ stands for the Fear Of Missing Out. Those driven by FOMO are always looking for new things to enjoy, always afraid they will miss out on the best things, always looking for a new thrill.
They are like a toddler who can’t keep from being distracted by shiny things. They are only satisfied with what they have until something new comes along. They chase after this rabbit trail and then another and the cycle repeats itself.
What’s the driving force for FOMO? It’s dissatisfaction with what one has and the longing for more. FOMO drives one from one thing to another hoping to find lasting satisfaction. That never happens.
People put chemicals in their bodies to feel euphoria but that never lasts so they go back and try again. “Maybe this time…”
They flit from this relationship to that hoping ‘this one will last.’ And so the cycle goes on.
They work for hours hoping to get ahead while neglecting those their health or family only to get fatigue.
The world offers shiny things. Things that entice you but bring no lasting pleasure. Yet we continue to go back to them hoping that feeling will stay. It won’t.
Don’t settle for the temporary pleasures the world offers. Only God gives things that last. You can’t have it both ways. Don’t let FOMO keep you from the lasting fulfillment only God can bring.
But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted! John 15:7
Remaining in Jesus is easy when times are good. When the checkbook balances, when the kids are excelling in good things, when your relationships are strong at home, and at work, when you finish your to do list every single day, it’s easy to remain in Jesus.
During those times, you may thank Him for all of His blessings. You may remember all of his promises and bask in his grace. You may even have the courage to testify to his greatness at church!
But what about those other times? Those times, and every road seems to be a dead end.
Those times when you struggle and strive to make things right and yet nothing seems to work.
Those times when the work that you have to do ahead of you seems overwhelming and you wonder how anything will ever get done.
Those times when you don’t even meet your own expectations, much less the expectations of others.
The gospels are full of people facing hopeless situation’s.
The dad, who’s a little boy would have seizures and throw himself into the fire or water.
The mom who followed the funeral procession out of town for her only son.
The woman humiliated because she was caught in the act of adultery.
The woman whose life was a mess, and after five divorces was living with a man who didn’t even value her enough to marry her?
Jesus makes a statement a couple of times in the gospels about the fact that we can have whatever we hope to have or accomplish. It’s a pretty amazing promise! And it’s one that has caused many to abandon the faith. They asked, and they didn’t receive so they decided the promise was invalid.
But the key to ‘getting what we want’ is being so close to Jesus that we want the same things he wants.
Fame is temporary. Possessions can be lost. Relationships can crumble. Good health that can be taken from you in an instant. Those who thought you could count on, can stab you in the back or throw you under the bus.
Abiding in Jesus is more than attending church on Sunday. It’s more than Bible study. It’s more than prayer. All of those things are good, but abiding in Jesus is more about growing in relationship with Him. When that happens, you find your needs are met more often because your desires have changed.
Lord Jesus, help us to learn what it really means to abide in you. To draw so close to you so that your very thoughts become our thoughts, your desires become our desires, and your ways become our ways.
Mike Fisk & Built with Grace 