THINKING THROUGH THE THIRD PATHWAY PT. 1

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In a post, last week, I mentioned that the Lord had been impressing on me that it was time to find another pathway of life ( a third pathway) through the increasingly complicated maze of our culture here in America. I sensed, during that time, that if Christians were to remain Christian, in the days ahead, we were going to have to withdraw from the world’s way of doing things and embrace a new way…which I guess is really an old way we have neglected for a bit.

you may remember we started here: FULL POST HERE

So let’s begin at the beginning. WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO STAND WITH SOMEBODY?

Well, here is what AI suggested as a definition of “stand with”- To “stand with” somebody means to publicly support, align with, or show solidarity with a person, group, or cause, often during times of conflict, difficulty, or in a shared, unified effort.

We’ll get to what it means to be underserved tomorrow but let’s talk about:

Public support– For me this means to love people unashamedly and to publicly build relationships with people… By love I mean….Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

8 Love never fails.  1 Cor. 13:4-8

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Align with- To me this means finding the spaces of community cooperation with people I do not see eye to eye with. Alignment is not, in my mind, perfect agreement but cooperation on values we do agree with.

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Show solidarity– I had to look up a definition here. Solidarity is unity or agreement of feeling or action, especially among individuals with a common interest; mutual support within a group.

Again this is not about perfect agreement but about finding those things we can agree on to build our communities together. I hate to keep talking about the absence of perfect agreement, but I realize that in our Christian communities we have embraced an unwillingness to work with people unless they agree with every one of our doctrines and ideals of personal holiness. This has to change if we are to become effective parts of our communities again and if we are to gain a voice at the community table. This is not about compromising what we believe or our identity in Christ. It is about us learning how to live out our identities peacefully in a world that does not understand or agree with them.

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This does not mean I am going to join in every project our community puts forth. It means I am going to be an active part of my diverse community and work with the underserved just like Jesus did. He wasn’t in perfect agreement with the people of his community. He still worked within the community. He attended weddings and parties and synagogues. He went to the Temple as required. He walked among the underserved of His day with love. He conversed with zealots and tax collectors and Pharisees and Saducees and Essenes and Centurions and prostitutes alike. He helped. He healed. He argued sometimes. He taught gently at others. Sometimes he flipped tables, but he stayed. He worked.

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That’s at least a part of the Third Pathway.

WHAT ELSE COMES TO YOUR MIND WHEN YOU HERE THE WORDS STAND WITH.

21 DAYS OF FASTING AND PRAYER 2026 MEDITATION 21

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WE HAVE COME TO THE END OF OUR FAST NOW! CONGRATULATIONS!

1 JOHN 5:18-21

 We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin; the One who was born of God keeps them safe, and the evil one cannot harm them. 19 We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one. 20 We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true by being in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.

21 Dear children, keep yourselves from idols.

1 John 5:18-21 (Source: Equip the Called)Theme: Final Exhortation and Understanding
1. You know that you are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.
2. The Son of God has given you understanding so that you may know Him who is true.
3. Keep yourselves from idols, resisting any temptation to remake God in your own image, but cling to the true God, Jesus Christ.
  1. WHAT DOES IT MEAN THAT THE WHOLE WORLD LIES IN THE POWER OF THE EVIL ONE?
  2. IF THE WHOLE WORLD LIES IN THE POWER OF THE EVIL ONE, WHAT DOES NOT LIE WITHIN HIS POWER?
  3. WHAT ARE THE IDOLS THAT THREATEN TO STEAL YOUR WORSHIP FROM GOD? HOW DO YOU PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM?

21 DAYS OF FASTING PRAYER 2026 MEDITATION 20

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Almost done everyone! Then we can begin unpacking all that was revealed during this 21 days of fasting and prayer.

1 JOHN 5:13-17

I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. 14 This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 15 And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.

16 If you see any brother or sister commit a sin that does not lead to death, you should pray and God will give them life. I refer to those whose sin does not lead to death. There is a sin that leads to death. I am not saying that you should pray about that. 17 All wrongdoing is sin, and there is sin that does not lead to death.

1 John 5:13-17 (Source: Equip the Called)Theme: Confidence in Prayer and Salvation
1. John writes these things so that you may know that you have eternal life.
2. You have confidence in approaching God: if you ask anything according to His will, He hears you.
3. Prayer is a powerful tool for yourself and for those who sin, reminding you of God’s mercy.
  1. ARE YOU ASSURED OF ETERNAL LIFE? WHAT DOES THAT FEEL LIKE?
  2. CAN WE BE ASSURED OF ETERNAL LIFE?
  3. HOW ARE YOU USING THE TOOL OF PRAYER THESE DAYS?

21 DAYS OF FASTING AND PRAYER 2026 MEDITATION 19

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Good Morning Everyone,

We are now in the final hours of our 21 days of fasting and prayer. Here is meditation 19.

1 John 5: 6-12

This is the one who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ. He did not come by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. 7 For there are three that testify: 8 the[a] Spirit, the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement. 9 We accept human testimony, but God’s testimony is greater because it is the testimony of God, which he has given about his Son. 10 Whoever believes in the Son of God accepts this testimony. Whoever does not believe God has made him out to be a liar, because they have not believed the testimony God has given about his Son. 11 And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.

1 John 5:6-12 (Source: Equip the Called)Theme: The Testimony of God
1. Jesus came by water and blood, emphasizing the reality of His physical human life and death.
2. God’s testimony is greater than human testimony, and He has testified concerning His Son.
3. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.

THINKING TIME:

  1. WHAT DOES IT MEAN “JESUS CAME BY WATER AND BLOOD”?
  2. WHY IS GOD’S TESSTIMONY GREATER THAN HUMAN TESTIMONY?
  3. WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO HAVE THE SON?

21 DAYS OF FASTING AND PRAYER 2026 MEDITATION 18

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Here is our evening meditation for day 20 of our 21 days of fasting and prayer.

1 John 5:1-5

Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well. 2 This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. 3 In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, 4 for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. 5 Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.

1 John 5:1-5 (Source: Equip the Called)Theme: Faith Overcomes the World
1. Anyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God.
2. Love for God is shown in keeping His commandments, and they are not burdensome.
3. Your faith is the victory that has overcome the world.

THINKING TIME:

  1. WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BELIEVE THAT JESUS IS THE CHRIST?
  2. WHAT COMMANDS OF GOD ARE YOU CURRENTLY RELYING ON GOD TO HELP YOU OBEY?
  3. WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE TO TRUST GOD TO HELKP YOU WITH OBEDIENCE?