Good morning and welcome in everybody. Today, we are going to take a look at a passage of scripture, but before we do that, I wanted to tell you a little story.
When my daughter Charity was very young, she began to take her very first steps in our living room. One of the photos that I took of her has been posted on our blog. I can remember that day like it was last week. It took a lot of coaxing and encouragement, because like most children, she would occasionally wobble around and then fall down. In order to walk requires determination on our part. At times it can be a struggle, but we must be persistent and persevere. At times our success comes down to how much you really want it.
This reminds me of the Christian Life.
Salvation requires walking each day in the doctrines of our faith. The Christian life is a walk, which denotes continued progression forward. A walk is more than just one single step; it is many that are placed together. How can you get into the shower each morning by only taking one step from your bed? How can you get to the grocery store by only taking one step from your kitchen? The point is, that a walk requires some effort on your part. You need to put one foot in front of the other if you really want to get to where you want to go. If we truly want to be in heaven someday, then we must walk daily in the truth.
2 John 1:4 I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father.
Most everything that we do in life requires some effort to obtain what we desire. If you want to become a manager at a store, you are going to have to be an obedient assistant, and faithfully show up for work each day. You will have to first prove yourself by your actions in order to be promoted to that position. If you want to graduate from high school, you are going to have to show up for classes and pass your tests. So you see, to obtain things that we want requires some action on your part. We must strive to obtain the kingdom which means to make great efforts to achieve it.
Luke 13:23-24 Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them, Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.
The Christian Life starts by stepping into the water of baptism, but this is only the first step. Eternal life is obtained by putting one foot in front of the other, a daily walk to eventually get to where we want to go, paradise. When you go to an interview for a job and they hire you for a position, you can rejoice that you were hired, but it is only the first step of your employment. You will need to continually prove yourself as a faithful and good employee to keep your job. If you neglect your duties, you will not last very long. This is why the Apostles taught the church to be doers of God’s Word. Those who are not going to walk in the truth are only going to deceive themselves, which can result in the loss of their soul.
James 1:22-25 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.
But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.
To be justified in God’s sight, we need to obey Him. It’s more than just words, it’s our actions that prove our loyalty and our love towards Him. It is through these activities that one can be saved eternally.
Romans 2:13 (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.
Scriptures are clear that we are justified by faith, but just saying the words “I believe” is not enough to inherit eternal life. Faith is something that we can see happening in someone’s life through their activities. Unless it results in repentance and obedience to the will of God, the faith that they profess is non-existent.
James 2:20-26 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?
And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
Each of us plays a certain part in our own salvation, because one can either resist God’s will, or humbly submit and obey Him. You can cooperate with God’s leading, or reject it. Ultimately, obedience will be required on your part in order to access God’s eternal kingdom.
Hebrews 5:9 And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;
Timothy was commanded by the Apostle Paul not to neglect God’s precious gift and to continue walking in the truth so he could save both himself and others.
1 Timothy 4:14-16 Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery. Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all. Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.
The Apostle John was greatly pleased knowing that others were walking in God’s Truth.
3 John 1:3-4 For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.
1 Thessalonians 2:12 That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.
The goal of our daily walk with God is to perfectly please Him.
1 Thessalonians 4:1 Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more.
The life of a Christian is more than making the first initial step to become a follower of Jesus, it is a lifetime of steps that are placed together by walking daily in the truth of God’s Word. God has already met us halfway, and if you really want to get to heaven, it’s going to require some effort on your part. You will need to rise up each day and walk in the teachings of our faith, and it all begins by putting……
……..One foot In front of the Other.
Let’s think about these things for right now. We can be found on your web browser by searching, tlkjbc where you can find our diaries distributed through various platforms. We are not associated, nor affiliated with any other religious groups. You can get our entire podcast feeds directly, along with transcripts at tlkjbc.com or I suppose that you could find us somewhere up here, in the Great Northern Minnesota woods. Peace to you, and Lord willing, we will talk with you some more tomorrow. Till then, bye bye everybody. ❤️
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