“‘Come, follow me’, Jesus said..” (Matthew 4:19).
That's a pretty clear command huh. Do you have a prodigal son, or prodigal mom, or prodigal dad, or daughter.. who has bailed out on following? The Lord understands -- for ages he's had many rascals like that. Knows what it feels like. The important thing is.. you and I are to daily follow Christ.
Got some questions on this? What is God’s purpose and will for me? What is God’s will for my life where I can live happy in Him?
There are a lot of wonderful principles, but we are to follow Him in accordance with his word. He says, “If you love Me, keep My commandments.” John 14:15
God’s will is in His word. May I ask.. When was the last time you opened your Bible to prayerfully study His commandments?
In the New Covenant, God writes His commandments in our hearts. We have the printed text of Scripture, but we also have the loving Holy Spirit inside.
I want to muse on em repeatedly cuz I'm kinda slow. For the most part, these commandments have to do with my inner life, not my outward circumstances.
Whether you are married or single, no matter where you work or live—following your Shepherd a.k.a. knowing Jesus in obedience to God’s Word is the most important thing.
Everyone I know has different abilities, which often place him or her in different occupations and in different walks of life, but whatever my situation is, I am faced with my own will that could go against God’s word. Daily it's an option for me, but God is looking for people who love Jesus enough to obey and follow Him instead of following after their own will. I mean doing their own thing independently.
Of the more than 2 billion or so people on earth who verbally profess to be “Christians”.. how many are truly Jesus’ sheep who wholeheartedly follow their Shepherd? Real born sheep so to speak or are many of them proverbial goats who will soon be separated? How many don’t listen to their Lord Jesus’ voice? How many put off or refuse to daily deny self and go after him? How many truly possess eternal and abundant life today?
Jesus was asked.. “‘Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?’ He said to them, ‘Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to. Once the owner of the house gets up and closes the door, you will stand outside knocking and pleading, ‘Sir, open the door for us.’ But he will answer, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from.’ Then you will say, ‘We ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets. But he will reply, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from. Away from me, all you evildoers!’ There will be weeping there, and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but you yourselves thrown out. People will come from east and west and north and south, and will take their places at the feast in the kingdom of God. Indeed there are those who are last who will be first, and first who will be last.” (Luke 13:22-30)
Christ warned, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’” (See Matthew 7:21-23 & 25)
In order to inherit eternal life, each human still sucking air on this planet here must personally know Christ by turning from sin and entering into a personal relationship with him through faith. Yes, by trusting in his atoning sacrifice on Calvary’s cross. Jesus (now alive cuz he rose from the dead) is the way (into never ending life with the Father), the truth and the life -- the only way.
“Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent” (John 17:3).
You don’t need to merely be moralized or need religion today. You need Christ. Christianity, in its purest form, is not a religion or a moral code, but a personal relationship with a Living Person–Jesus Christ. He, the Father, and the Holy Spirit have never been religious, but our enemy, Lucifer is. Never forget there’s a difference between those who follow Jesus the good Shepherd and those posers who follow a so called Christian-looking religion!
When we were born again (spiritually. See John 3:1-21), we repented, trusted, and met Jesus. We were then founded, rooted and established in the living word of God (Jesus) himself. From this initial position of being rooted and established in him we must also continue on in him (and not in anything or anyone else as our god or lord). There is only one real God.
“So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.” (Colossians 2:6-8)
The Bible says, “..the sheep listen to his (Jesus’) voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.. I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me–just as the Father knows me and I know the Father–and I lay down my life for the sheep…My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish.” (John 10:3-5, 27-28. Always see the whole context)
"And He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me." 2 Corinthians 12:9
"The Lord has appeared of old to me, saying: ‘Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you.’" Jeremiah 31:3
"For we walk by faith, not by sight." (2 Corinthians 5:7)
We must be willing to stand alone, and go it alone following Jesus.
Jesus: “Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven. Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to turn ‘a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law–a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.’ Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” (Matthew 10:34-39)
He promised to meet all our needs (Psalm 23). The Bible says, "But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:19
"Though he falls, he will not be overwhelmed, for the Lord is holding his hand. I once was young and now am old, yet never have I seen the righteous abandoned or their children begging for bread. They are ever generous and quick to lend, and their children are a blessing.." Psalm 37:24-26
We would rather have Jesus than anyone else or anything else. Forsaking all else, we are to follow Christ. He’s better than all his blessings.
"I have decided to follow Jesus
I have decided to follow Jesus
I have decided to follow Jesus
No turning back, No turning back
Though I may wonder, I still will follow
Though I may wonder, I still will follow
Though I may wonder, I still will follow
No turning back, No turning back
The cross before me, the world behind me
The cross before me, the world behind me
The cross before me, the world behind me
No turning back, No turning back
Though none go with me, still I will follow.." ~ S. Sundar Singh
There have been times when I’ve gotten distracted. Yes, there have been days where I get so busy creating, or reading, or working that I forget to spend time with Jesus.. or follow and obey God’s commandments to me.
God commands me to put away “all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor and evil speaking..” Ephesians 4:31
But I see some really evil people who long time aren’t getting punished for hurting or killing others and I feel like punishing them. Can’t do it, it’s not my place.
If, whether I am doing road or building construction, if I am flipping burgers, traveling or providing support for my dear wife, Liney, If I for some reason or another get angry with my co-worker in the middle of it all to the point where I feel like taking matters into my own hands to do something.. I have drifted outside of God’s will. I ain’t to be angry with people or get revenge on them.
God’s will is that I follow my gentle Shepherd.. that I become free from my old fleshly human nature, yes, from my own will, and simply follow Jesus. That I follow the commandments God has written in my heart.
“And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another..” Ephesians 4:32
Gotta ask if I may.. As a Christian, do you more often act like the policeman or the paramedic with other people?
So many are rushing off of cliffs these days, and now they lay in at the bottom all broken and wounded.
When someone has crashed their life you well know how the police will arrive there to arrest those who have broken the laws (I am grateful for real police, but is it a believer's place to act like they do if they aren't employed with the police?).
The police go investigate and find out who are the victims, and who are the wrong doers on the scene. They will penalize the wrong-doers quickly, so they’ll learn never to do wrong again. They aren’t the judge, but are to evaluate. They are to make wise judgements. Most do that well.
But the paramedic quickly arrives there not to find out who did wrong or right, but to minister to those who are injured, and who are dying. They check the vital signs, they stop the blood flow with a tourniquet. Yes they help those who are hurting or bleeding to stabilize so the doctors can do more to help. It’s about speed and first aide. It’s about getting the injured to safety.. to the hospital even. It’s not their job to make the criminals on the scene there into non-criminals, or to fine them. Both police and paramedics seek to protect people and that’s how we are to be. The Bible teaches, “Love..always protects.”
I say, act like a paramedic more than like a police person, believer. If a crime has been committed call the police for sure. If someone is hurt, call 911. But in your attitude act more like a paramedic to rescue the perishing. There are already too many Christians and religious people acting like the police or the judge when there is blood on the ground.
It isn’t my natural tendency to care for people, but God has commanded me to live like this—God’s will for me is a life where sin has no power over me, but rescuing is a part of my experience!
You know how a good Shepherd rescues his straying or non-straying wounded lamb. It’s what he’s about. He watches out for their well being sort of like a paramedic does at times.
Are you like a wounded sheep or goat today? I've been very concerned about my dad and his health lately. Please pray for Kim. His doc just found a lump in his abdomen.
Believer, perhaps you have some health issues or feel like you've been walking through the valley of the shadow of death lately? It's a shadow--we're going to live forever. One day at a time with Jesus--his grace is sufficient. None of us are promised tomorrow, so let's live for him today.
"The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness for the sake of His name. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever." Psalm 23 emph. mine
The Christian in the will of God is immortal until that moment God calls him to heaven. Do you have an assurance of being forgiven and saved? You can today.
Each day it's impossible to follow right and do God’s will in our own strength, but I say trust Jesus to empower you step by step.. yes, to help and guide you the whole way.
I’m referring to a person who is attempting to put to death their sinful desires without any help from God; not sinning by sheer strength of will here.
You know how some people may manage this to some degree, but ultimately it is impossible to long pull that off. When my whole heart’s desire is to obey the voice of my Shepherd instead of my own... guess what. He is there for me, and He gives me power to carry out His will in his way. He's there for you as well. Fish4souls.org
