The Sacred Path
The journey of following Jesus is one of steady, Spirit-led movement. It is a sacred path—a divine invitation to walk in step with God. As Pastor Josh Hamstra of V1 Church teaches, this path isn’t about striving or stalling. It’s about faithfully following one who guides our steps.
Salvation is the beginning of this journey, and it is a free gift. It’s not something we earn, deserve, or manufacture through our efforts. As Pastor Josh declares it is: “By grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone.” Salvation doesn’t stop at belief—it transforms identity. It moves us from just saying “I believe in Jesus” to declaring, “Lord, I want to walk with You.”
In Acts 11:26, the term "Christian" was first used to describe the disciples in Antioch—not just believers, but followers of Jesus. To follow is to move. Christians should have a belief that moves because the sacred path requires movement: from salvation to sanctification, from belief to action, from knowing about Jesus to walking with Him daily.
The issue is many believers get stuck or sidetracked by two extreme postures: the Sprinter and the Staller.
The Sprinter: Zeal Without Wisdom
Sprinters leap into everything with passion and excitement. They’re eager to serve, willing to sacrifice, and driven to do “all the things” for God. These qualities are admirable—but dangerous when not rooted in wisdom.
The dangers of the Sprinter include:
Burnout: Overcommitment leads to exhaustion. Galatians 6:9 reminds us not to grow weary in doing good, but to do good in God’s strength, not our own.
Lack of Wisdom: Relying on self instead of the Holy Spirit leads to flesh-driven decisions rather than Spirit-led fruit.
Pride: 1 Timothy 3:6 warns against becoming puffed up with pride. The moment we think it's about us, we’ve lost sight of God’s grace.
If you find yourself in this posture of the sprinter there is a remedy to help you get back in the right balance for your sacred walk with God. Evene Christians must learn to walk before you run. God is more interested in your being than your doing. You must get rooted in the Word and learn His voice before chasing every opportunity.
Another remedy is get planted in the church. You cannot follow Jesus without being part of His body. Solo Christianity is not sustainable. When you disconnect from the local church, you expose yourself to spiritual isolation and attack.
“You cannot leave the Church and stay in Christ,” Pastor Josh warned.
The Staller: Paralyzed by Fear
The other extreme posture is the Staller—the hesitant, passive believer afraid to move. They’re cautious, waiting for the perfect moment, the perfect plan, or the perfect version of themselves.
The dangers of the Staller include:
Spiritual Stagnation: Growth stops when movement stops.
Missed Opportunities: Delaying obedience can delay someone else’s breakthrough.
Fear and Insecurity: Instead of being filled with faith, the Staller becomes paralyzed by inadequacy.
Hebrews 5:12 challenges this mindset: “By this time, you ought to be teachers…” But many are still stuck on spiritual milk when they’re called to eat meat.
Like the sprinter their is also a remedy for the Staller. The staller must take the first faithful step. You don’t need a blueprint—just a “yes.” Peter didn’t need full understanding to walk on water. He needed a willing heart.
"The only thing God needs is your yes. Your yes must come before everything else," Pastor Josh declared.
Christians need to trust in God's strength. Like Moses, you may feel unqualified, but God says, “I AM.” His power is made perfect in your weakness. The same power that raised Jesus lives in the believer. You must ask yourself: what are you doing with that power?
The Third Way: Healthy Discipleship
The final example is the healthy path to be on in one's sacred walk. Following Jesus isn’t about sprinting or stalling, it is about steadfast, Spirit-empowered movement—walking in rhythm with God.
Healthy discipleship is marked by three things:
Relationship Over Activity
Discipleship begins with relationship—not with performance. We are here for people, not programs. This is not a business, it’s the bride of Christ.
“It starts with relationship, not activity.” the indiana based minister noted.Steady Growth Over Sporadic Effort
This journey isn’t a sprint, it’s a marathon. Hebrews 12:1 calls us to run with endurance, not adrenaline. Discipleship is formed day by day, week by week, year by year.Faith for the Impossible
True disciples walk in faith, even when walls like Jericho loom ahead. They believe in the God who makes a way through the sea, tears down strongholds, and brings the dead to life (Hebrews 11).
Whether you’ve been sprinting in your own strength or stalling out of fear, God is calling all of His followers to walk in step with Him. The sacred path is not about perfection. It’s about progression, We all have to take daily steps of faith, obedience, and trust.
Pastor Josh concluded by saying: “The moment you say yes to the call of God, every single divine strategy from heaven, every single map you’ve been waiting for, is going to open up in your life.”
About the Author
Jeannie Ortega Law is a chart-topping singer, evangelist, media personality and author from New York City. She can be reached on social media: @JeannieOrtega or emailed at Info@JeannieO.com
At V1 Church we believe in teaching Bible-based relationship principles so that you can your family can be strengthened. Connect with us using one of the links below – we’d love to see you and help you walk through the process of reconciliation.