STEPPIN’

“Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness. You know that He appeared in order to take away sins; and in Him there is no sin. No one who abides in Him sins; no one who sins has seen Him or knows Him. Little children, make sure no one deceives you; the one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous; the one who practices sin is of the devil; for the devil has sinned from the beginning. The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil. No one who is born of God practices sin, because His seed abides in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.” (I John 3:4-9 NASB 1995)

I’ll start out by stating, as scripture informs us, “All sin and fall short of the glory of God.” Well, that’s my stating, and now let me do some pointing. I pointed out to a group of believers last week, “Any long departure away from the place we should be, starts with one step.”  The place we should be is on the path of righteousness; the path that we will travel through life as followers of Christ. Conditions and circumstances will not be perfect, and we will not be exempt from challenges in this life, but we will be able to handle them perfectly with the help of our Savior. As one songwriter wrote, “Jesus is willing to aid you, and He will carry you through.”  Figurative mountains can be moved, valleys can be passed through with optimism prompted by unshakable faith, and storms can be quieted when you are on the path of righteousness.

Let me point out something else, okay? If you listen to the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and believe in the word of God, in spite of all the worldly noise and satanic attacks, you will not take that first step that will get you to a place where you have wandered too far and the changing of your sinful ways is improbable. Just keep walking in the right direction, one step after another step. If you do, you will not find yourself practicing sin. And, if you mess up, you know how to look up, make up, and by the mercy of God, get a new start. However, I urge you as a believer, to think before you take the wrong step in the wrong direction. I know that we will have failings, but you will not be a failure as longer as we get back on the path and not drift to the point of apostasy. If you are believer reading this meditation, remain God-conscious, continue committing to the climb, and cling to living a Christ centered life.

But if you are not a believer, I need to tell you it is wise to stop, listen, turn around, take one step by faith and come to Jesus. Act quickly! Keep in mind that the consequence of those who take one step in the wrong direction, they risk arriving at a distance far away from the place that another songwriter said, “From the peaceful shore.” The peaceful shore is where you come to the position, that safe place where you find real peace through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

There is a specific reason for you receiving this meditation. God has a specific purpose in mind for you to receive it. How will you respond? I’m praying your response, my friend, will be one that puts a smile on the face of God. Have a great day! Be blessed!

“Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:1-2 New King James Version)

Committed to the climb,

Mark L. King