Obedience

Posted on by Jesse Walker

Have you ever sung the song, “Trust and Obey”? It’s a beautiful song that speaks to our submission to God. The chorus goes like this,

“Trust and obey, for there’s no other way
To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.”

There is one word that will reveal if someone’s faith in God is genuine. And that word is obedience. In James 2:19, the Apostle James teaches that belief is not enough. For even the devil believes and fears God but will not submit to God’s authority.

The Apostle John said in John 14:15, ‘if you love me, you will keep my commandments.” It is not enough just to believe in Jesus, the bottom line with God is obedience. Those that keep His commandments are those that have come to know Him. (1 John 2:3-5).

Every single aspect of our Christian life hinges on our obedience to God. Our obedience is crucial to our spiritual happiness. It’s indispensable to our spiritual health. It is vitally critical to our spiritual holiness.

Obedience is taking up your cross daily and following close to Jesus (Luke 9:23). Without the cross there is no crown. There is no redemption without suffering.

The American church has forgotten about the cost. It has reinvented itself to appeal to our uncontrollable desires and our extravagant living. While the church has succeeded in making herself acceptable to many it has abandoned the cross.

This doesn’t mean you have to deny yourself every pleasure of life. Or to pledge to live in poverty. But it does mean that whatever you do, you must do it as you are working for God. Not for human gain, but to bring glory to God, and to His Kingdom. (Colossians 3:23-24). Let’s become a people, who put the cross back into the center of everything we do. And this is Jesse Walker with the Glenwood Church of Christ.

 

Toothless Christianity

Posted on by Jesse Walker

 

In John 12:3 we read, “Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, “Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.”

Mary took a year’s worth of wages and anoints the feet of Jesus. When is the last time you gave a years’ worth of your wages in service to God? If the average wage in our country is fifty thousand, when is the last time you and I gave that much?

I know, you immediately run to remind me that giving is to come from the heart. You are absolutely right. When is the last time you gave joyfully from the heart a year’s wages? Oh, I know, you want to remind me of Mark 12:41-44 where the widow put in two copper coins worth only a few cents. You would be right, but remember Jesus said she gave out of her poverty. She put in 100% of her income. She gave “all she had to live on.”

In John 12:24-25, Jesus said, “Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. 25 Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life.

We want a deathless Christianity. A Christianity that allows me to assemble on Sunday mornings with no interference in my life. We argue over the furniture, the air conditioning, the carpet, woman’s roles, bible versions and the amount of alcohol in the water Jesus turned into wine. Why? Because our Christianity is toothless. Unless you die, and without Christ dying, there is no Christianity.

No amount of money, no amount of time, no amount of anything will replace the fact that you must die. It’s time for the church to stop talking about it and start living it. I ask you again, when is the last time you gave a years’ worth of your wages to God? But that’s not biblical preacher. Let me rephrase the question then. When is the last time you gave all, you had to Jesus? When did you give out of your poverty? Not knowing where your next meal might come from. When did you deny yourself a vacation? A trip around the world. Cut investment so that the Kingdom of God could be glorified. If you are still wanting to argue that it’s not about money preacher. Go back and reread this letter. You are right, no amount of money will meet the requirement. You must die. Then you can give all you have. I ask you again, when is the last time you gave every penny, every ounce of blood that flows through your body to God? When is the last time you denied yourself anything, so that the Kingdom of God could be glorified? I’m not talking about giving from excess. Like the widow, when did you give from your poverty?   Let me close with this, in 2 Corinthians 13:5 we read, “5 Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you? — unless indeed you fail to meet the test!”

What More Must God Do To Convince You?

Posted on by Jesse Walker

Do you believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God? If you don’t why don’t you? What else does God have to do to prove Himself to you?

The people of Jesus’s day ask Him the same question. Who are you? Stop keeping us in suspense. Tell us plainly (John 10:24). To this Jesus responded, I already have. Let me ask you a question. What more does Jesus have to do to convince you to follow Him?

There are over 5,000 ancient Greek manuscripts, more than 8,000 ancient Latin manuscripts. There are over 300 prophecies that point to Jesus as the coming Messiah written 1500 years before the New Testament. This is not to mention the occurrences that the bible references in secular history. Or the fact that other contemporary authors wrote about Christ.

Sense the first century after the death of Christ, Christianity has been turning the world upside down. In Acts 17:1-9, Paul and his companions taught that Jesus was the Messiah. Because of this, some of the Jews became jealous and had some of them arrested.

Each of us will have to settle this question of who Jesus is. If you have questions about who Jesus is, why not ask Him. God will reveal Himself to those who truly seek Him with all their heart (Jeremiah 29:13). The key to finding God is an honest heart. Many ask who Jesus is, but it’s not to find Him, it’s to provide them with another excuse for not believing in Him. There will always be another excuse for you to follow. If you want to find God, you will. But if you’re not sincere you will never find God, because God will not reveal Himself to you.

The Great Shepherd

Posted on by Jesse Walker

In the gospel of John (John 10:1-18), Jesus said, “I am the great shepherd.”  He also says that his sheep hear his voice and that He knows them by name. There is a close relationship between the Great Shepherd and His sheep. How well do you listen to Jesus? We live in a world that praises the spectacular. The superior athlete. The elite of teams. The biggest and the best.

Yet Jesus heals the sick. He restores sight to the blind and heals the lame. He calms storms and feeds the hungry. He touches the diseased leprosy person who others avoid. He eats with sinners and offers life to the outcasts of His day.  How clearly do we hear the voice of our Great Shepherd?

When was the last time you talked to someone who others see as a failure or a misfit? When was the last time you fed someone who was hungry? When was the last time you visited the sick? Matthew 25:40 says, “Then those ‘sheep’ are going to say, ‘Master, what are you talking about? When did we ever see you hungry and feed you, thirsty and give you a drink? And when did we ever see you sick or in prison and come to you?’ Then the King will say, ‘I’m telling the solemn truth: Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored, that was me—you did it to me.’”

Lord, please open our eyes to see the overlooked and ignored. Help us to find joy in the ordinary.

Purpose Driven

Posted on by Jesse Walker

There are many reasons why we do what we do. But one of the greatest reasons I can think of is to serve others. To seek their best. As a coach, I have been blessed to see many of my athletes grow into mature adults, who often give back to their communities.

I like the way the Apostle Paul put it while contemplating dying or living while in prison. In Philippians 1:22-24 he wrote, “But if I live, I can do more fruitful work for Christ. So I really don’t know which is better. I’m torn between two desires: I long to go and be with Christ, which would be far better for me. But for your sakes, it is better that I continue to live.”  Wow, if only we could all learn to have this same attitude.

What a way to view life. Paul had no doubt that if he died, he would be with Christ. All believers who are following after Jesus have this same assurance. In John 8:51 Jesus said, “Very truly I tell you, whoever obeys my word will never see death.” Oh, we will all die a physical death one day, but the Apostle John is speaking of a spiritual death. For those in Christ, they will never die Spiritually. They will never be separated from God.

If we could only learn to say like the Apostle Paul, “if I live, I can do more fruitful work for Christ.” Let us all become a people that prays, “Lord, open my eyes to see how I can be a blessing to others.” Lord, make me more like your Son. Soften my heart to serve.

The Great Light Has Come!

Posted on by Jesse Walker

George Jones sang a song called “Where Did the Sunshine Go.” He asked where is the love I used to know? Where did the Sunshine go? Where is the one I needed so.

Where has the light gone? Our world is engulfed in darkness. According to Isaiah 9:2, “The people who walk in darkness will see a great light. For those who live in a land of deep darkness, a light will shine.” The Apostle John tells us that, Jesus came into the world to bring light and life. Unfortunately, as we read in John 3:19-21, the people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.

If you are a believer in Jesus Christ, you are a child of the light and the day. 1 Thessalonians 5:5. You do not belong to the night or to the darkness. Aren’t you glad as a believer your eyes have been open. You don’t have to stumble around in the dark. God has revealed himself and His great love for you.

Are you confused, stumbling through life, bumping into objects in the dark? John says, “walk in the light” so you will know where you are going. John 12:35. Friend, you don’t’ have to be in the dark. The light (Jesus Christ) has come, and His word is a lamp to our feet. Psalm 119:105. But the clock is ticking, come before it is too late.

The more we spend time in the darkness, the more comfortable it becomes. Your eyes will adjust, and you will begin to accept things you never would have before. In Matthew 5:16 we are told to let our light shine before men. Darkness and light have nothing in common.

Will you join me in offering them light? Let’s not hide our lights under the basket but hold them up high so that they will shine brightly in our communities. Bringing light to the entire city.

God of Second Chances

Posted on by Jesse Walker

Have you ever needed a second, third or fourth chance? The prophet Jonah did. When he was told to go to Nineveh he ran from God (Jonah 1:1-3). And when his running away from God almost cost him his life, he cries out to God and his prayers are answered. While I don’t suggest you wait until your life smells like rotten fish, if that is where you are, it’s never too late to repent and to seek God’s help.

While God is the God of second chances. I’m not suggesting you live your life in a sloppy fashion as if it doesn’t matter. That is just as unbiblical as thinking you don’t need God. The Apostle James addresses this when he compares those who have no work with those who have no faith. Believers will have evidence of their new life. They will possess the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23).

In 2 Corinthians 5:17 it says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”  Believers in Christ are not just put back together. Or patched up. They are completely new. In Titus 3:5-6, God saved us by his mercy, when we were reborn and we were generously given the Holy Spriit through Jesus our Savior. And according to Romans 6:3-6 this is done through baptism where believers are buried into Christ’s death and risen unto His resurrection. Paul goes on to show how the believer’s mind is to change and to no longer serve the flesh. But is to be controlled by the Spirit (Romans 8:6).

Are you tired of chasing after the fruitless things of life? The things that leave you empty. Jesus stands ready to offer you living water where you will never thirst again (John 4:10-14). Have you been running from God like Jonah and come to know that you need help. Cry out to God, and the God of second changes will answer your prayers. Come celebrate the NEW BIRTH!

Plenty or Little

Posted on by Jesse Walker

On a scale from 1 to 5, how would you rate your contentment? Contentment can become a challenge when things seem to be going terribly wrong. When others talk about us, office politics, financial loss, sickness, worry, relationships, the list is endless.

The Apostle Paul said in Philippians 4:11-13 that he “…had learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” Paul had learned to trust in God. Before you say, Paul doesn’t know what you are facing, listen to his words in II Corinthians 11:25-33 where He says he was beaten with rods 3 times, stoned once, and shipwrecked 3 times. Paul knew what it was to have nothing and to be left for dead. Yet Paul found how to be content in any situation he found himself.

When we struggle to live in peace, and to find contentment, it’s often times because we aren’t trusting enough in God. Scripture can help us to find contentment. 1 Timothy 6:6-7 reads, “But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it.”  There is much gain to be found for those that live a godly life filled with contentment. The truth is, we will leave this world with nothing. It doesn’t matter how much stuff you accumulate. In the end, it will all be left behind.

Hebrews 13:5 says, “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; and never will I forsake you.” When you are feeling overwhelmed, over stressed, at your wits limit, remember God has said he is always with you.

Contentment is found in God and in his word. When the world is pushing in on you, learn to be like Jesus. Find a quiet place to pray. Slip away to your secret mountain top and spend time with your creator. Jesus always found time to talk to His Father. And if we learn to do the same, we will find peace and joy.  And this is Jesse Walker with the Glenwood Church of Christ.

Attitude Helps Determine Altitude

Posted on by Jesse Walker

Do you remember when you received your first love letter? I’ll never forget mine. It went something like this, I like you, do you like me, check yes or no. I was young, and had no idea what love really was. All I knew was my belly was full of butterflies.

Did you know the Apostle Paul had a love for the Philippian brethren? In Philippians 1:7 he writes, “I have you in my heart…” In the next verse he again writes, “I long after you in the tender mercies of Christ Jesus…” (Philippians 1:8).

It’s in this very city that Paul so loved that Silas and himself were beaten for preaching Christ and put in prison and around midnight they were praying and singing hymns unto God and the prisoners were listening to them. (Acts 16:25). Oh, the power of love is stronger than any physical wound. No amount of ill-treatment could lessen the love that Paul and Silas have for their God. Beaten and in chains, they sing. It’s in this same love letter that Paul penned the words, “Rejoice in the Lord always…” You might say, Paul lived what he preached.

The message is true for you and me today. We are commanded to rejoice in the Lord always. But do we? We have become a nation that spends our time complaining. We complain about politics. About school boards. How it rains too much, or it’s too hot, or it’s too cold. How no one spoke to me. They didn’t ask me to do this or that.

Do you know what the results were that day when Paul and Silas were praying and singing in prison? The “prisoners were listening to them” (Acts 16:25). And because of that, the jailer cries out, “what must I do to be saved.” And that very night all that was in his house believed and was baptized. Do you realize the power of your attitude? By Paul and Silas giving praise to God, souls were saved that night.

It also teaches, we should be careful because there is always someone listening. In the darkest of places. In the places where we think God isn’t wanted. Around people that we think would never accept Jesus. A jailer cries out. “What must I do to be saved.” (Acts 16:25-34). Do you realize, this night could have turned out very differently? Paul and Silas and the prisoners could have run when the jail doors were swung open miraculously. But even before that. Paul and Silas could have chosen to be mad about their unfair treatment. They could have been ugly to the guards. And if they had, the jailer would never have seen a difference in them than any other prisoner. But because they choose to “rejoice” souls were saved.

The next time you find yourself complaining about life, remember someone is listening. Even in places you think they’re not. How you respond to struggles in life may be the difference between someone being saved or remaining lost. Lord, I pray you forgive me for the times I have been negative. For the times I failed to “rejoice.” May others see my joy and may it be infectious. Let me be a part of the cure not part of the problem. And this is Jesse Walker with the Glenwood Church of Christ.

The Power of Love

Posted on by Jesse Walker

Love can drive us to do what seems impossible. For example, my wife has selfishly loved me for years, and this isn’t always easy to do. Wait a minute. Why are you laughing? I’ll bet your spouses could say the same thing about you.

I recently read an incredibly sad and heart wrenching story about a mother who died while rescuing her children from their burning home. Her love for her children cannot be denied. It reminds me of Jesus’ love for us. Jesus surrendered Himself to face death on a cross, in order that we could live. But how did mere mortal man pull off such a sinful deed? I mean, how did humanity capture deity?

There is one remarkably simple answer. They didn’t. Jesus laid down his life freely. In John 19:10-11, Pilate ask Jesus, “Don’t you realize I have power either to free you or to crucify you?” And Jesus replied, “You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above.”

Man does not manipulate God. God does not come running when man snaps his fingers. In an act of pure unselfish love, Jesus chooses to lay down his life so you and me could have life. Do you need more proof? In Matthew 26:53, Jesus says, “Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels?

Humankind did not trick Jesus, He wasn’t overpowered, and He didn’t miscalculate, or make a wrong turn on the road to Jerusalem. He wasn’t like Sampson who lost his power when his secret was revealed. Jesus purposely died for the ungodly (Romans 5:6-8). In other words, Jesus saw us with all our ugliness, and willingly died for us.

Are you feeling all alone? Like no one cares about you. Can I tell you about someone who loves you more than you can comprehend? If you want to know more about this kind of love, leave me a comment. Or send me an email at jvwalker@otg-llc.com. I’d love to hear from you.