Dear Church,
Yesterday, I preached a message called “Walk This Way!” 1 Peter 2:21-“To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.” How can we make sure our feet stay on the right path, take the right route, and represent Christ in the right way? How can we follow Him with the steps we take?
- God wants you to WALK IN OBEDIENCE. Jesus walked in obedience to God the Father. “Walk in obedience to him, and keep his decrees and commands, his laws and regulations, as written in the Law of Moses. Do this so that you may prosper in all you do and wherever you go.” (I Kings 2:3)
- God wants you to walk with anticipation.
- Walk with Determination. While you need to anticipate God will do something special for you, you also need to make up your mind that you will do something significant for God!
You cannot move on to spiritual maturity, to deeper things of God if you don’t settle the issue of who is in charge and who sets the agenda for your life. Why walk in obedience? What did I Kings 2:3 say? “Do this so that you may prosper in all you do and wherever you go.”
Listen to what God told to Joshua in Joshua 1:3 “I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses.”
You aren’t supposed to go through life assuming a position of defeat, but you are to live with a spirit of anticipation that God wants to bless you. He wants to make conquerors out of every one of us! (Romans 8:37)
Act like, live like, and walk and talk like you are the child of a King who can only bless those who love and are obedient to Him! Quit walking around waiting for the “other shoe to fall!” Quit walking around anticipating bad things, and start anticipating God-things!
I love the story of Joshua and nation of Israel in Joshua 3:9-16. The Israelites were, facing another body of water. God had parted the Red Sea in front of them as they were escaping from Egypt and now they were face to face with the Jordan, and they hear that the priests are to go first, carrying the presence of God and that when they get their feet wet its waters would part and stand up in a heap so the nation of Israel could cross.
Perhaps the leaders thought, “Why can’t you just part the Jordan like you parted the Red Sea, God?” Listen, sometimes God will just open the door. Sometimes He will just part the waters, but sometimes He wants your feet wet. Sometimes He wants you to invest some effort. Sometimes He wants you to take a step or two. The priests had to conclude that if it took them getting their robes wet and going first, then so be it. They were determined to do whatever it took.
Determine to have a Christian family and raise kids who know and love Jesus. Determine to use your spiritual gifts to serve the Lord. Determine to be a witness to your friends. Determine to tithe and give your money God’s way. Determine to walk away from sin and habits that are robbing your health and taking your money. Determine to make an impact on the world around you. You may have to get your feet wet. You may have to row out in deep waters. You might even have to walk on water, but if God calls, you can do it. Make up your mind that you will. Follow Jesus! Walk with determination!
Seeking to Walk God’s Way,
Pastor Melissa
