How many times have you sang "Just a Closer Walk With Thee" in church? Familiar with it? Here is an awesome version with Patsy Cline and Willie Nelson:
It's one of my favorite hymns, but I really don't know if we understand the implications of a closer walk with Jesus. The Closer walk is a hard walk, but it's always worth it. It's difficult because it's an invitation to come and die. Perhaps it's not a physical death we are called to (though there are Christians the world over doing so for the faith even as this is being written), but we are all called to Die. As you will see in the passage below, Jesus said "If anyone is to come after me, he must first deny himself, pick up his cross daily, and follow me." The Cross is always a call to die.
Paul reminds us in Romans 12 " 12 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. " A Living Sacrifice: living in death to our wants, wishes and desires, nailing our old life to the Cross, that we might serve God and one another, so that God receives all Glory, and we might know His will. We can know God's will as we allow His word to transform us, as we step out of the way, and as we seek to be obedient, and seek after His glory in all things. Let us be transformed. Let us die to self that Jesus may receive all Glory, Honor and Power in everything we do!
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