Walking on the Road...

[Carl Emerson]

Friends,

Are some of us studying the road map, memorising the place names, arguing about the best route, even planning the trip....

But not walking on the road.

Now Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest, and asked for letters from him to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, both men and women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.

Yes there is a cost...

Time to step out.

 

[timewerx]

Friends,

Are some of us studying the road map, memorising the place names, arguing about the best route, even planning the trip....

But not walking on the road.

I did this literally. Planned my route, memorized landmarks.... And literally Walked many kilometers to get around the city I visited, in one day because I'm too cheap to rent a car or even get on the bus!

Back on topic.... I prefer to study very very carefully first. Placing every word under careful scrutiny so I'm pretty sure I'm choosing the right road to walk on.

To me, making the right choice is more important than the effort. I'm not saying making the effort is unimportant, it is very important too. Just all our efforts become meaningless if we choose the wrong road.

It also takes a huge cost to find the right road. Like being hated by literally everyone.

And there are many roads that lead to destruction. Only one road to life.

 

[Carl Emerson]

I did this literally. Planned my route, memorized landmarks.... And literally Walked many kilometers to get around the city I visited, in one day because I'm too cheap to rent a car or even get on the bus!

Back on topic.... I prefer to study very very carefully first. Placing every word under careful scrutiny so I'm pretty sure I'm choosing the right road to walk on.

To me, making the right choice is more important than the effort. I'm not saying making the effort is unimportant, it is very important too. Just all our efforts become meaningless if we choose the wrong road.

It also takes a huge cost to find the right road. Like being hated by literally everyone.

And there are many roads that lead to destruction. Only one road to life.

Does He not guide is as we move?

Are not His ways past finding out.

Time to begin the walk of Trust.

 

[ajcarey]

Good exhortation.

A big hindrance to this though is that many doctrines taken logically deny the need to walk the road, and to walk it faithfully until the end, altogether. Some even teach the presumption that God will irresistibly put you on the road and keep you on it if He wants you on it. Some also change the road, labelling one of the many avenues of the broad way as the right road, while calling the narrow way that leads to life the wrong road. Of course these errors can overlap in some also. It's important then to have and understand the right directions to get on the right road and to stay on it, not just in terms of where you must go but also in terms of what it is you must do and what you must depend on God to do.

And it's important learn about the road you must take. If somehow you got misinformed before and turned away from or turned off of the right road, it could save your life to discern that the road you are on is the wrong one so that you can be warned well to turn around and find the right road. And it's important that if you are on the right road that you have that confirmed as much as possible so you will not turn away from it to get on another road, because many will surely tell you somehow that the right road is wrong.

The exhortation is still valuable to those who aren't doing all they know they ought to do regarding carrying out the commandments and instructions in the Bible, since running the race of faith on the narrow way requires this (Matthew 7:13-27, Hebrews 12, etc).

 

[timewerx]

Does He not guide is as we move?

That is also true. In reality however, differences in beliefs between denominations is a fact we can't ignore. If the same God /Spirit is guiding us, why our beliefs differ?

The problem is that if somehow, we are mistaken in our beliefs, we could end up deceiving other people.

Despite having the best intentions.

A very important teaching of Christ: "Don't let your right hand know what your left hand is doing". The point is, don't let your good deeds be known. We don't always know what is good. If we have not yet arrived to what is true, then we avoid deceiving other people.

Time to begin the walk of Trust.

It's rather hard to trust a world that is ruled by the devil - 1 John 5:19

The Bible rather leans towards the practice of being very careful to choose our ways than being quick to believe.

Many Christians fear hell more than missing the Truth. And that is a problem.

 

[Carl Emerson]

OK let me explain...

On the forum for example there are many who assume the role of teacher, but their skill is confined to the study of scripture and they have little or nothing to say about walking with Jesus in life.

As a result folks are defrauded of the exciting life intended by God as they walk 'in the Way'

Judgement will be about your walk with Jesus and if your heart beats with His.

He said repeatedly - follow me.

If this truth was taken to heart, the church would explode.

What is worse is that many teach that the ability to hear His voice and follow, was replaced by the scripture.
Frankly this denial of the function of the Holy Spirit within to freely lead us in His purpose, has choked the church of life and growth.

Underneath all this is the human obsession with control. Instead of setting believers free to serve as He wills, adherents are locked into human programmes that boost the 'church'.

Following Jesus is not following rules, it is following a person. Your love for Him will keep you from straying away from His best for you, it is a heart walk.

You wont hear this taught because it is very rare for a teacher to have walked in 'the way' with him, they mostly spend time studying the map.

 

[timewerx]

You wont hear this taught because it is very rare for a teacher to have walked in 'the way' with him, they mostly spend time studying the map.

Oh I see, I do both!

But still keeping my eyes open.

 

[Anguspure]

I did this literally. Planned my route, memorized landmarks.... And literally Walked many kilometers to get around the city I visited, in one day because I'm too cheap to rent a car or even get on the bus!

Back on topic.... I prefer to study very very carefully first. Placing every word under careful scrutiny so I'm pretty sure I'm choosing the right road to walk on.

To me, making the right choice is more important than the effort. I'm not saying making the effort is unimportant, it is very important too. Just all our efforts become meaningless if we choose the wrong road.

It also takes a huge cost to find the right road. Like being hated by literally everyone.

And there are many roads that lead to destruction. Only one road to life.

The only thing that matters in Christ is faith expressing itself in Love.

 

[timewerx]

The only thing that matters in Christ is faith expressing itself in Love.

Yup, that's Galatians 5:6!

And what is love?! (baby don't hurt me, don't hurt me....)

1 John 3:18
Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.

 

[Anguspure]

Yup, that's Galatians 5:6!

And what is love?! (baby don't hurt me, don't hurt me....)

1 John 3:18
Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.

....and who is the Truth? He is Love itself.

 

[joshua 1 9]

they have little or nothing to say about walking with Jesus in life.

If we talk about our relationship with Jesus or the sacrifices we make or what we do to serve people and help them - we are going to get attacked and people are going to ask us to defend ourselves. Even you are questioning peoples relationship with Jesus. We can give a witness and our testimony for the hope that is in us. Nowhere are we told we have to defend the fact that we have a relationship with the God that Created us. In fact that is against the rules of the forum and Jesus said do not question who is and who is not saved but let the angels sort them out.