Walking with Jesus: A Call to Authentic Christian Living
In our journey of faith, we often find ourselves at a crossroads - do we truly walk with Jesus, or are we merely going through the motions? This question challenges us to examine our hearts and consider how we can live out our faith authentically in every aspect of our lives.
The essence of walking with Jesus is more than just outward actions; it requires a transformation within us. We're called to understand who He is and allow Him to have that place in our lives, living according to His will. It's not about trying to outrun sin on our own strength, but rather running to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.
There's a powerful reminder in Isaiah 40:28-31 that speaks to this journey:
"Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired and weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall. But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint."
This passage reminds us that when we truly understand who God is, we can have a vital walk with Him - a life-changing walk that impacts others for His sake. It's crucial not to let our failures become our identity. Instead, we must make up our minds to follow the Lord, even when situations are difficult to understand.
The call to "let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts" (Colossians 3:15) is a powerful directive. Often, we struggle with peace because we resist God's work in our lives or let our struggles define us. But we're instructed to actively let Christ's peace rule. This involves surrendering our will and trusting in God's plan, even when it doesn't align with our own.
Walking with Jesus involves laying aside the things that easily ensnare us. Hebrews 12:1-2 encourages us:
"Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight and sin that so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith."
This walk with Jesus isn't always easy. It often involves confronting areas in our lives that need change. The sermon highlighted four key areas where we often face resistance:
Purity: God calls us to holiness and to keep ourselves unpolluted from sexual defilement. This can be challenging in a world that often celebrates sexual immorality, but we're called to guard our sexual purity with holiness and dignity.
Finances: Many of us want to control our money, but God calls us to trust Him with our finances. The principle of tithing - giving the first tenth of our earnings to God - is a biblical concept that challenges us to trust God's provision.
Speech: Ephesians 4:29 instructs us, "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful in building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen." This challenges us to consider how our words impact others and glorify God.
Attitudes of the heart: Proverbs 6:16-19 lists seven things that God hates, including pride, lying, and causing discord. These attitudes of the heart can poison our walk with Jesus if left unchecked.
In each of these areas, we have a choice: resist God's instruction or humbly submit and walk with Him. The beautiful thing is that even when we've fallen, our "life alert" is in Christ. We can always turn to Him, kneel at the cross, and give it all to Him again.
An important truth to remember is that God doesn't waste anything in our lives. Even the experiences we might consider "wasted years" can be used by God for His glory. He can use our past struggles and failures to connect us with others who need to understand the victory we now have in Christ.
The sermon shared a powerful analogy of fruit trees. These trees endure every storm, drought, and difficult season, yet at the end, they produce fruit. Similarly, the fruit we bear through our struggles isn't just for us - it's to help someone else in their time of need.
As we walk with Jesus, we're called to impact others for His glory. 2 Corinthians 4:5-7 reminds us:
"For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake. For God, who said, 'Let light shine out of darkness,' made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God's glory displayed in the face of Christ. But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us."
We may be fragile "jars of clay," prone to cracks and breaks, but God specializes in mending broken things. Even through our cracks, His light can shine, revealing a unique beauty that comes from being restored by God.
In conclusion, walking with Jesus is about more than just believing in Him - it's about actively following Him, allowing Him to transform every area of our lives. It involves confronting our resistance, surrendering our will, and trusting Him even when it's difficult. As we do this, we not only experience personal growth and renewal, but we also become vessels through which God can work to impact others.
Let's challenge ourselves to examine our walk with Jesus. Are we truly following Him, or are we resisting His work in certain areas of our lives? May we have the courage to surrender fully, trusting that as we walk with Him, He will renew our strength, guide our paths, and use our lives for His glory.
