Beyond a Shadow of a Doubt: Finding Security & Certainty in ChristSample

Many of us find ourselves wanting to be like someone else. Maybe there is a family member, friend, or celebrity that we admire, and we want to emulate them. We want to look like they do, talk like they do, or walk like they do. As followers of Christ, we are called to reflect our Savior. In 1 John 2:3–6, John teaches that believers are called to walk as Jesus walked. And how did He walk? In complete obedience to the Father. Now, unlike Jesus, we do not perfectly obey God. But the new life that Jesus has given us enables us to obey God’s commands. Through the help of the Holy Spirit, we are able to choose to follow God’s commands.

John’s words in these verses reveal that those who walk in obedience to Christ are true followers of Christ. However, there are times when we fail to obey the Lord. Even though we want to follow God’s commands, we find ourselves choosing to disobey Him instead. The times we fail to obey God as believers should not discourage us to the point that we stop trying to obey God. And these moments should not make us afraid that we are not true followers of Jesus. As believers, we know that we will fall short in our obedience to God in one way or another. But the new life that Jesus has given us enables us to keep following God’s commands and to repent when we disobey.

So as followers of Jesus, we can continuously rely on the Holy Spirit to help us walk like Jesus, even if we stumble along the way. We can ask the Holy Spirit to give us the strength to resist sin and choose obedience to the Lord. And in the times we fail, we can rest in God’s forgiveness and allow His grace to motivate us to keep obeying Him.

Reflect and Respond

How are you currently obeying the Lord? What are some ways in which you can more faithfully walk in obedience to the Lord, with the Spirit's help?