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Walking Like Christ

If I could only choose one book of the Bible and vote it "Most Convicting" I just might choose 1 John. I have been studying 1 John for a couple of weeks now, and I'm almost half way through chapter 2! :) John's pattern so far has been alternating between statements of light and statements of darkness. So far, my study has caused me to pause several times and consider how my life "stacks up" when compared to John's clear and frank approach to the Christian life.

This morning, 1 John 2:6 really stood out to me. It reads:

whoever says he abides in Him ought to walk in the same way in which He walked.

How did Christ walk? As I reflected on the life of Jesus as told in the Gospels, a lot of events came to my mind. Often, I think Christians have a tendency to view Jesus as compassionate and gentle while forgetting the passion and aggression that He displayed at times. He made a whip and drove the vendors out of the temple. He spoke with adulterers, ate with tax collectors, told fishermen to follow Him, called Peter, aka "the Rock," satan, killed a fig tree, and stood face to face with the one who has dominion on earth and rebuked Him with the Word of God. That doesn't sound like a reserved, docile life to me!

As I contemplate how Jesus lived, I am compelled to examine how I am doing to walk in the same way in which He did. Am I bold to speak the truth in love? Do I talk with the adulterers and tax collectors of my day? How about the lepers? Do I revere God's temple enough to drive out the immoral from within it? Do I take God's Word seriously enough to take a stand that would no doubt cost me popularity and maybe even friendships?

While I don't want to sound like I am excluding grace, I do feel that all too often I play it safe. I don't really live fully submitted to Christ. Sometimes I feel the Spirit moving me to speak to someone but I second guess it or just dismiss it altogether as if it wasn't there. Unbeknownst to the other person, I have an internal battle between the Spirit of God and my pride. Why me, God? Why convict me of being too introverted? Why make me step so far out of my comfort zone and risk making a fool of myself when the person laughs at me or mocks me or curses me?

Why? Because I ought to. I should be compelled to walk in the same way in which Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior, walked. Right now, it is a burden for me to do so. But, from my past, I know that the burden only lasts until I step out in faith and see the glorious and sweet reward of deeper fellowship with Christ that results. As I pray and tell God that I want to know Christ fully just as I am fully known, I see Him answer my prayers in this way. He speaks to me and tells me to step out of my comfort zone and trust Him. He stirs in my heart a desire to share the Gospel no matter the personal difficulty in being bold and outgoing.

It's exciting and scary. Encouraging and humbling.

So I'm faced with this question: Am I willing to walk in the same way in which Jesus walked? Woe to me if I don't!

How do I do it? By the grace of God.

Nothing else will bring glory to His name.

Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.
John 12:24-26

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