Our Personal Walk with Jesus

Hi Friends,

In my opinion, our personal walk with Jesus is the most important relationship we can enter into. Since Jesus sacrificed Himself for the forgiveness of our sins, we know He loves us; all He wants is for us to love Him back, this is where your personal walk begins. One has to make a choice whether they will walk with Jesus in a full time relationship, or just send Him a postcard every once in a while when they are in some type of trouble, asking for Jesus to help them through.

Hoping that we have elected to make that choice to let Jesus walk with us full time, now we must decide what kind of relationship and walk we will share. Of course, the best way to get to know Jesus is through His Word, so a regular reading of the Bible is in order so it's a great idea to engage in some kind of Bible Study, preferably at a good church, but at least you can look one up on the internet or ask me and I'll make some suggestions. The next important thing is to find a good church, one who relies on and teaches biblical truth, that way you can find the support of and be supportive of like minded Christians.

Now, once you have found the church that works for you, don't forget that you are still having a Personal Walk with Jesus. Unfortunately, many who attend various churches want to get a little too involved in the walks of others, I once knew of a man who would go driving by the bars in the evening and bring back a list of parishioners to the pastor who's cars he had spotted at those bars. This activity in my opinion is reprehensible! It's a great way for good growing Christians to be scared away from not only church, but Christianity as a whole. This man certainly was not without sin, he did not need to be involved in the judgement of the potential sin of others for as Jesus said, "He who is without sin, throw the first stone." The list writer needed to be concerned with his own walk, not the walk of others.

Jesus addressed this problem of being concerned with other people's relationship with Him when He was talking with Peter during His post resurrection visit to seven of the followers at the Sea of Galilee. The men had just finished eating and Jesus had asked Peter if he loved Him three times. After Jesus told Peter to follow Him, the following exchange took place: (Matt 21:20-22) "Peter turned and saw that the follower Jesus loved was walking behind them. When Peter saw him behind them, he asked Jesus, "Lord, what about him?" Jesus answered, "If I want him to live until I come back, that is not your business. You follow me.'"

Jesus had told Peter, the Rock, that his personal relationship was just that; Personal! "YOU follow me" is to me the most eloquent and direct way Jesus could tell us not only that He wants a personal relationship with us, but that our personal relationship is indeed between us and Him.

That's all for now. Until next time, may the countenance of our Lord shine upon you and your life be met with many blessings,

Fr Charles