Following the Way of the Lord

The world we live in is challenging. It is challenging to remain a Bible believing Christian. Many do not want to accept the Bible as the Word of God. Instead of looking to the Lord's Word for guidance in life, people today base their actions and thoughts upon their feelings or the direction of the world. The challenge for the Christian is to be in the world but not become a part of the world. What that is saying is that the Christian is to live each day as a Child of God, following the way of the Lord, instead of following the sinfulness of the world. Yes, Scripture tells us that the world and our very nature is sinful. The one that wants to follow the way of the Lord is challenged because it is tempting to turn from that Word and trust in one's own personal feelings. Those feelings change like the wind. The Word of God does not. That really makes it difficult to follow the way of the Lord.

"Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!" (Isaiah 5:20 ESV) In order to justify one's own way of life, this is the temptation. It is good to act against the way of the Lord. It is evil and wrong to point out sinful behavior in the world. When the Christian does try to stay focused on that which the Lord says, he or she is attacked by many, until the Christian quits speaking out at all. Why? Because it is difficult to remain focused on the life of faith while being attacked over and over again by those who refuse to listen to the Word of God.

Jesus told us that it will become more difficult to remain faithful. He says, "Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all the nations for my name's sake. And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved." (Matthew 24:9-13 ESV) Yes, it will be difficult. It will be tempting to say nothing. It will be challenging to remain faithful to the Word of the Lord in a world that seeks to lift up sin behavior as normal. 

What shall I do? I shall continue to keep the Word of the Lord in my heart and life. I will hold fast to the way that the Lord would have me live. (No, I am not saying that I will not sin. I will. When that happens, I will confess my sin to the Lord and, repenting, I will turn from that sinfulness.) I pray that the Holy Spirit would continue to guide me as I try to live not according to my sinful nature, but according to the life I have in Christ. "So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus." (Romans 6:11 ESV) Lord, help me to live according to Your will.