Willing to Walk with Jesus?


Can two walk together unless they have agreed to do so? - Amos 3:3

What does it mean to "Walk with Jesus?"

One paraphrased version of this verse from Amos says, "How can we walk together with your sins between us?"

A. W. Tozer once wrote regarding spiritual perfection, "Is there anyone for spiritual perfection?"

This theme of the possibility of being spiritually mature, or "perfect" as Paul puts it, makes many nervous. Many see Christianity as partly religion, partly social fun, partly group therapy. Is it fanaticism to want to press on until you can perfectly love God, perfectly praise Him, and perfectly love other people? Is it fanaticism to want to live daily in the perfect will of God?

Throughout the Old and New Testaments we see those with a hunger to know God and to follow Him. In the New Testament we see that in the life of Paul, and the disciples throughout the book of Acts. Why are we so distracted today?

Many Christians today are not joyful because they are living sub-Christian lives. They are not joyful because they are not Holy persons, and they are not Holy persons because they are not filled with the Holy Spirit. They are not filled with the Holy Spirit because they still want to live with one foot, or both feet, planted in the World. What is even worse is that many Christians living in this condition will defend their choices, their flaws, their weaknesses, and their defeats. They will defend with great emotion their "right" to cling to the world.

Many people followed Jesus. At times the crowds numbered in the thousands. At times, the crowds even wanted to make Him their King. However, when Jesus declared that it was necessary to turn away from sin, to make Him the Lord in their lives, and to give their very life for Him, the crowds left Jesus as fast as they could, leaving only a few remaining. Not many are actually willing to follow Jesus.

The truth is that among those who are saved, not just pretending to be saved, or wishing they were saved, but among those who are actually followers of Christ, not many are willing to "sell their soul to Jesus," to give themselves 100% to Him.

Can two walk together unless they have agreed to do so? - Amos 3:3

What does it mean to "Walk with Jesus?"

In order to walk with Jesus, you must agree with Him. You must agree with Him about where you are going, and about how to get there. You must agree with Him about where to walk, and about how fast to walk. You must walk with Him. He will not compromise with you.

Douglas Cowan, Psy.D., is a family therapist who has been working with ADHD children and their families since 1986. He is the clinical director of the ADHD Information Library's family of seven web sites, including http://www.newideas.net, helping over 350,000 parents and teachers learn more about ADHD each year. Dr. Cowan also serves on the Medical Advisory Board of VAXA International of Tampa, FL., is President of the Board of Directors for KAXL 88.3 FM in central California, and is President of NewIdeas.net Incorporated.


MORE RESOURCES:
RELATED ARTICLES
What is True Freedom?
Freedom..
Meditations From a Spiritual Journey
For me, the best poetry stirs my soul; it awakens my spirit through its clarity and simplicity. Its purpose is clean, pointing me towards greater understanding of who I am in this world, or, even better, towards comprehension of the divine that indwells both this world and me.
The Final Chapter
     Several months ago, I read an article about a 22 year old, successful young lady who died a premature death in a plane crash. The more I read this article, the heavier my heart became because she died in the midst of her formative years.
Building the Bridge of LOVE - Dont You Think Its time?
One of the saddest times in any child's life is when for some reason they think one or both or their parents are going to be taken from them. In the mid-nineties on one of their tours Naomi Judd announced to the world that she had hepatitis and would retire from the country music business.
The Wisdom of the River: Lessons Learned
Over the past few years I have watched the popularity of whitewater rafting grip the vacation market. "Strange", I thought.
Wear the Message of Grace: A Work Weeks Devotions
As the artist and designer for Ashbach Designs, I want more than for you to just wear a piece of pretty jewelry, I want you to wear each piece as a symbol of your faith. In keeping with this idea, I have created a work week's devotions to go with your jewelry, or another special faith symbol in your life.
The Power of Gods Love Can Change Your Life
Do you want victory in your life? Do you have problems with addiction, relationships, depression? Do you sometimes doubt that you will ever overcome?The key to victory over difficult life circumstances is the power of God's love!"And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power together with all the saints to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge-that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus, throughout all generations, forever and ever, amen.
Authentic Spirituality: Pure and Undefiled Religion
Because of the bright lights behind me, the golf balls themselves appeared to be glowing that night as they flew through the air. I couldn't avoid hearing a loud voice over the clicking of clubs hitting golf balls.
Letting Go of Judgment - Finding Good (God) In Others
"I resolve to speak ill of no man?and proper occasions speak all the good I know of everybody." -Benjamin Franklin"Judge not, that ye be not judged.
Giving From the Heart
I thought for sometime that I was hard done bye with having to produce this newsletter and manage my web site with old computer equipment that was so slow that I could have cat naps between the time one program would close and another opened. This had a mixed blessing in that I could work for hours without having to stop and rest so there were some advantages to having archaic equipment.
Esoteric & Occult Secrets
To understand the nature of esoteric and occult secrets it is worthwhile looking at origin of the words esoteric and occult. Esoteric derives from the Greek word esoterikos, from the root word eso, 'within' .
Past Life: Wanting to Know Who I was in My Past Life?
Before we tread into the domain of Past Life..
Creating With Words
"In the sixth century of the sixth millennium, the gates of supernal [heavenly] wisdom will be opened, as will the wellsprings of earthly wisdom, preparing the world to be elevated in the seventh millennium." The Zohar (a source text of Kabbalah)TRY SAYING THESE WORDS TO YOURSELF:Depressed, sad, afraid, guilty, alone, weak, fragmented, disconnected, weary, helpless, victimized, threatened, tired, drained, resentful, unappreciated, misunderstood, burdened, angry, hate, hard, not good enough, dreary, stupid, ugly, lonely, impossible, overwhelmed, isolated, too much for me, failure, I can't, danger, panic, it's too hard?How do you feel? And, what happens to your goals when you feel this way? To your energy? To your willingness to take risks? To your belief in yourself and your dreams?It's not such a pretty picture.
Remote Viewing - Making Light of the Dark
Even Pandora and her box come in two versions. In one, the hideous woes of the world are let loose while locking hope inside.
An Analysis of Western Mans Guiding Presuppositions
An analysis of Western man's guiding presuppositions, A Review of the book "Impulse of Power" by Jack KettlerAfter having had the pleasure of reading Dr. Michael W.
As Above, SO Below
The 'As Above, So Below' law that is the combination of micro and macrocosmic reality likely comes from Hermes Trismegistus, a Babylonian who became a Pharaoh of Egypt according to the Arab Encyclopedia. Barrett is probably right about him being a legendary amalgam of people, but so what? This kind of semantic, pedantic, academic, squabbling just confuses the issue and people get to the point where they take one side or another, rather than integrate and see the effect of the power-mongers.
Is the Church a Friend to Survivors of Abuse?
After 6 years, I left an abusive relationship with an X partner (we were NOT married) in October 2004. He had verbally, emotionally, psychologically, and sexually abused me since the birth of my daughter in October 2001.
Spirit and the Mind-Body Team
Your mind-body team is made up of your mind and your body. No surprise there! Your mind and body are closely related because they can both be()given to you genetically ()created by you ()altered by some physical world eventGeneticsYour mind-body team is biologically based.
Love vs. Fear - Volume 18
Breaking with tradition, today's article comes from the 9-23-04 edition of Sojomail. Sojomail is produced by Sojourners; an evangelical journal, and calls itself a 'weekly email-zine of spirituality, politics and culture.
How A Grudge Can Affect You
As we go through life we all have to deal with feelings of anger, resentment or bitterness when people hurt us. Can you think of someone who has hurt you so badly that you are finding it really hard to let go of the pain or grudge?Tracey's first husband beat her every time he got drunk.