WALKING DAILY WITH CHRIST

“As he spake these words, many believed on him. Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. They answered him, We be Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free? Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever. If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed” - John 8:30-36 (KJV).

The new birth experience is the beginning of life-long adventure of walking with Christ. But, what does it mean to walk with Christ? You took the first step toward walking with Christ when you decided to repent of your sins and commit your life to the Lord, Jesus Christ. This step, although vital, is not the only step you are supposed to take.

To be a disciple of Jesus Christ, you must walk with him consistently. One of the essentials things of walking with Christ is reading God’s word, the Bible. The path of life is littered with temptations. The safest way of walking and not stumbling at any of the temptations is to read and keep the word of God. The holy word of God as a guiding light is imperative to those walking with Christ daily. It dictates the conduct and life-style of the believer and it has the final say on all matter that concerns the believer.

Another essential in walking with Christ is prayer. Communication is essentials for a growing relationship. When you pray you are communicating with God. The Christian life is a new experience to everyone that is newly converted. As a Christian, it’s essential to maintain a life of open communication with God as a habit. Not only does the person walking with Christ has the privilege of telling God about whatever bothers him, he also has the added advantage of having his need met. Prayer, the act of communicating with God, is also the greatest weapon through which the devil and his cohorts are defeated. Prayer is simple. It is casting your care upon God (1 Peter 5:7), asking God, the father, whatever you need (John 15:16) in the name of Jesus (John 14:13).

The most essential in walking with Christ that many overlook today is obedience: This what God demand from us and He places a high premium on it. A number of people who profess faith in Christ faltered when it comes to obedience. This is because they see Jesus as Savior but fail to know and accept Him as Lord. The Bible says “Jesus is Lord”. It is important to know that the true wisdom consists in building our spiritual house on the Rock, Jesus Christ our Lord. This singular act will make our Christian faith to become strong and firm in the fundamental principles of victorious Christian living. Our Christian life should always obey the Lord when things are convenient or when things go contrary to the way of our expectations. Jesus is Lord forever! He demands absolute obedience for all believers who are walking with Him. Our motives, tempers and lives should always conform to His Word, leaning on nothing but His grace and enabling power. Hence, walking with Christ is the most glorious experience in life that can ever happen to a Christian.

There are new discoveries for us each day in our daily walk with Christ. It ushers us into deeper knowledge, greater experiences and enjoyment of God’s blessings. With Christ as Captain of our salvation in our journey, He’s ever faithful to grant us victory, success, happiness and fulfillment here on earth and a blissful eternity hereafter.  “But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and has been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them” (2 Timothy 3:14).

BIBLE AND YOU

The Holy Bible (also called the Scriptures, the book of the law, the book of the Lord) is the most inspiring book in all of human history. “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works” (2 Timothy 3:16-17).It is living and active book that inform,counsel, educate and impact knowledge above all the series of books that have been in human history. All scripture is written through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit and about forty writers were used to do its composition and compilation for over a thousand years.

God’s word is free from any mixture of error, from all falsehood. The Holy Bible, which is also called the book of the LORD in Isaiah 34:16, it’s the heavenly treasure and constitution given to mankind, to guide us in our pilgrim’s journey on earth to eternity (life eternal). We are admonished to “seek ye out of the book of the Lord and read: no one of these shall fail, none shall want her mate: for my mouth it hath commanded, and his spirit it hath gathered them”. Every promise is pure, and every doctrine is pure; every commandment is pure, and every promise prophecy is pure; every one of them free from the mixtures and interventions of men.No doubt, it’s the greatest book in the world and in the history of man.

It’s about God’s revelations to man covering the past, present and the future events. No man can know God except by the Holy Scriptures. As life of man cannot be sustained and nourished without the physical food even so a Christian cannot live victoriously except he/she daily feeds on the Holy Scriptures to nourish their spiritual lives. Who then is the author of the Bible? The Almighty God Himself in His infinite mercy inspired the writers, as the Holy Spirit moved the saints of old: the Prophets and Apostles (to mention but few) to write about God’s creation, His love, plan and purpose of salvation (2 Peter 1:20-21; 2 Timothy 3:16-17). Bible revealed God’s will to us (Psalm 119:9, 11,105). It also reveals the way of salvation by pointing us to the vicarious death of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior, who paid the price of the sins of humanity (Hebrews 13:12; Acts 4:12).

The importance of reading and studying the scriptures cannot be over emphasized thus; it shows us the way of salvation and righteous living (John 3:16, 36;6:63; 8:32). It also gives us power over sin and weapons against temptation (Psalm 1119:11; Matthew 4:3-4). Studying and obeying the book of the LORD lead you to prosperity and success in life (Please read Joshua 1:8; Psalm 1:1-3).More benefits you can derive from the Holy Bible as you study and practice it is growth and maturity (1 Peter 2:2); nourishment and health (Proverbs 4:20-22). As physical food is to the body so is the word of God to the soul of men.Unfortunately,a lot of people hate the Bible and a greater number of them hardly read God’s word. Reading the Bible day and night is profitable in this last day as it will impacts your life than any other books you can ever come across.Devotional attention must be given to the Bible – read it, study it, meditate on it, pray on it and obey it.

No any other guidebook that can lead one to heaven (life eternal) except the Holy Bibles. Truly, the Christian journey is impossible without studying the Bible. Hence, it’s imperative for all Bible-believing Christians to read God’s inspired book every day. “But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God,and keep it “(Luke 11:28). Commitment to the Bible means that we read it prayerfully, meditate on it patiently, pray on it perseveringly, and obey it in totality. We must not only rejoice in the promises but we should also tremble under the judgements and hasten to obey the commandments. Remember that as you are keeping to this word, your life shall never remain the same.