Walking by Faith: The Journey of Righteousness
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You may be aware that today is mother's day. A uh significant theme for today's message is walking by faith. And I believe that motherhood is a beautiful example of this. For nine months, you are the holder and bearer of life itself. We have some beautiful biblical examples of mothers who we can look to. [00:00:00]
When we allow Jesus to shepherd and guide us, it is then that we will find true contentment and restoration. When we choose to sin and go our own way, we cannot blame God for the situation or environment that we find ourselves in. [00:01:29]
Too often we return to the dried up and empty well wells seeking to mask, numb, or dull the pain or emotional baggage that we may be carrying. These are wells of temporary love, momentary affections, alcohol, drugs, food, mindless scrolling, and the like. [00:01:48]
Our shepherd knows where the green pastures are. Our shepherd knows where the still waters are. Our shepherd knows what will restore our souls. He knows the way of righteousness and he will willingly and freely teach his ways to anyone who accepts him and puts their faith and trust in him. [00:02:21]
So many of us want to try to do it our own way because we trust and believe what we see and experience or worse we'll trust imperfect humans to guide us like the blind leading the blind. [00:02:55]
Our friends or those whom we associate with have a profound effect on us. If we insist on keeping friendship with those who would mock the things that God considers important, we will find ourselves becoming indifferent in our relationship with God. [00:03:53]
But how do we sit, stand, and walk by faith and not by sight? Let's look over here at Hebrews chapter 11. I'm just going to skim through and kind of hit some highlighted sections in what is uh become known as or referred to as the hall of faith as opposed to the hall of fame. [00:04:23]
By faith, Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as an inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. By faith, he made his home in the promised land. Like a stranger in a foreign country, he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. [00:05:20]
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, that is those who lived and died by faith, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race that is marked out for us, fixing our eyes on the pioneer and the perfector of our faith. [00:07:44]
If we are to run a race marked out for us, then we must stay on this path. We'll call this path righteousness. And we can only stay on this path by keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, our shepherd, the author and perfector of our faith. [00:08:37]
And to the left and to the right are many side paths that lead to unholy living. We know which paths to avoid. It seems easy. Unfortunately, only a few of these paths look unpleasant, dangerous, or scary. Most of the other side paths look safe, fun, well-lit, colorful, beautiful, and inviting. [00:09:00]
I could imagine some of these road names, these side streets, if you will, on the path of righteousness, calling out to our attention, telling us that there's an easier or a better way. I've gone ahead and named some of them. We have Pleasant Street, Easy Street, Drunkard's Drive, Indulgence Boulevard, Scenic View, Lusty Lane, Lazy Way, Gossip Place, Judgmental Court, Pride Place, and Anger Avenue. [00:09:58]
Remember that Jesus says to enter through the narrow gate. For broad is the road and wide is the gate that leads to destruction and many enter through it. But narrow is the road and small is the gate that leads to salvation and only a few find it. [00:10:41]
People put their confidence in the flesh all the time, taking pride in their own efforts and putting it on full display, receiving the praise and honors of man and in a sense letting everyone know that they're better than anyone else. [00:11:32]
Is that outside of Christ, I am in no greater or lesser need of a savior than the person sitting right next to me. Outside of Christ, I am in no greater or lesser need of a savior than the person sitting right next to me. [00:12:06]
When we follow Jesus down the path of righteousness, we are choosing to live a life of obedience and righteousness. And living in righteousness consists of consistently choosing to do what is right. Not a subjective thought or feeling, but actual standards of what is right. [00:13:26]
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When we allow Jesus to shepherd and guide us, it is then that we will find true contentment and restoration. When we choose to sin and go our own way, we cannot blame God for the situation or environment that we find ourselves in. [00:01:29]
Too often we return to the dried up and empty well wells seeking to mask, numb, or dull the pain or emotional baggage that we may be carrying. These are wells of temporary love, momentary affections, alcohol, drugs, food, mindless scrolling, and the like. [00:01:48]
Our shepherd knows where the green pastures are. Our shepherd knows where the still waters are. Our shepherd knows what will restore our souls. He knows the way of righteousness and he will willingly and freely teach his ways to anyone who accepts him and puts their faith and trust in him. [00:02:21]
So many of us want to try to do it our own way because we trust and believe what we see and experience or worse we'll trust imperfect humans to guide us like the blind leading the blind. [00:02:55]
Our friends or those whom we associate with have a profound effect on us. If we insist on keeping friendship with those who would mock the things that God considers important, we will find ourselves becoming indifferent in our relationship with God. [00:03:53]
But how do we sit, stand, and walk by faith and not by sight? Let's look over here at Hebrews chapter 11. I'm just going to skim through and kind of hit some highlighted sections in what is uh become known as or referred to as the hall of faith as opposed to the hall of fame. [00:04:23]
By faith, Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as an inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. By faith, he made his home in the promised land. Like a stranger in a foreign country, he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. [00:05:20]
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, that is those who lived and died by faith, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race that is marked out for us, fixing our eyes on the pioneer and the perfector of our faith. [00:07:44]
If we are to run a race marked out for us, then we must stay on this path. We'll call this path righteousness. And we can only stay on this path by keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, our shepherd, the author and perfector of our faith. [00:08:37]
And to the left and to the right are many side paths that lead to unholy living. We know which paths to avoid. It seems easy. Unfortunately, only a few of these paths look unpleasant, dangerous, or scary. Most of the other side paths look safe, fun, well-lit, colorful, beautiful, and inviting. [00:09:00]
I could imagine some of these road names, these side streets, if you will, on the path of righteousness, calling out to our attention, telling us that there's an easier or a better way. I've gone ahead and named some of them. We have Pleasant Street, Easy Street, Drunkard's Drive, Indulgence Boulevard, Scenic View, Lusty Lane, Lazy Way, Gossip Place, Judgmental Court, Pride Place, and Anger Avenue. [00:09:58]
Remember that Jesus says to enter through the narrow gate. For broad is the road and wide is the gate that leads to destruction and many enter through it. But narrow is the road and small is the gate that leads to salvation and only a few find it. [00:10:41]
People put their confidence in the flesh all the time, taking pride in their own efforts and putting it on full display, receiving the praise and honors of man and in a sense letting everyone know that they're better than anyone else. [00:11:32]
Is that outside of Christ, I am in no greater or lesser need of a savior than the person sitting right next to me. Outside of Christ, I am in no greater or lesser need of a savior than the person sitting right next to me. [00:12:06]
When we follow Jesus down the path of righteousness, we are choosing to live a life of obedience and righteousness. And living in righteousness consists of consistently choosing to do what is right. Not a subjective thought or feeling, but actual standards of what is right. [00:13:26]
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