Follow Me

 “Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” – Mark 8:34

  

What a powerful scripture verse in the New Testament. It seems so easy to be a committed Christian when life is good, but I've come to realize that the cross becomes much heavier to carry when I am faced with trials in my life. I assume you're a lot like me and struggle when the times get tough. As it would have it though these are the times we should be looking more toward God for answers and help in our situations. 

This scripture calls out three things: 
      1.   Deny yourself
      2.   Take up your cross
      3.   Follow Christ

It takes a focus in all 3 of these areas to walk with Christ. So what does each mean.
Deny yourself - put aside your desires, your plans, your worries and your sinful lusts. Seems simple when you read the words, but putting them into action takes a consistent effort and watchful eye. Do you have it in you? Are you able to turn away from your current lifestyle, ownership and control and pursue His plan for you?

Take up your cross - This is certainly not intended in a literal manner, so we must look deeper to understand what is meant by the phrase in question. The cross symbolizes pain, anguish and most importantly death.  In the 1st century AD the cross had one meaning - the criminals would bear the weight of the cross and be hung on it.  So now rethink the meaning of the phrase ... willing to die for the name of Christ.  Wow, that seems extreme.  But be honest, would you be willing?  This is reality in several countries around the globe even today (Pakistan, Ecuador, Nigeria, Somalia, Indonesia, Ethiopia to name a few)

Follow Christ - There is a huge cost to do this. Have you thought about that? Are you willing to lose your family relationships over this decision?  What about your job, your reputation, your closest friends or your financial stability?  For to follow Christ in a non-superficial manner takes more than lip service it takes action.  Many times this decision will contradict comfortable areas of your life and you will be forced to choose. 

Now you see why this is such a powerful verse. The disciples that were walking with Christ and heard these words from His very mouth struggled to live up to this edict. How therefore are we expected too? We need to have a full comprehension of the depth of this commitment, but realize that these requirements can only be met through a full trusting, faith filled, and dependent reliance on Jesus Christ to carry you. It cannot be done without Him. 

The Greatest Gift

 “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.” – 1 John 3:16

His little eyes were brown as they looked up at the doctor.  He wasn’t afraid anymore, because he knew in his heart that he would be holding Jesus hand very soon.  The accident had occurred earlier in the day and small town of less than a thousand people all knew of the dire situation within a few hours.  The man involved in the accident was in critical condition, and the doctors and ER staff were doing all they could to, but it wasn’t looking promising.  People began gathering at the hospital to provide moral support, and as the young family pulled into the parking lot, a line was wrapping around the building.  As they walked toward the building, the young boy asked the simple question, “What are y’all doing in that line?”  One elderly woman in line said matter-of-factly, “Why, we’re giving blood to save Mr. Stanton.”  The boy proceeded to the end of the line, which made his parents proud, so they followed and stood with him.

The doctor was walking down the line of people standing there, asking a few questions of each person, and one by one, they were all leaving the line.  Finally, he came to the boy.  Looking up at the parents, he asked, “Do you know what his blood type is?”  The mother answered, “It’s ‘O’ negative.”  This got an optimistic response from the doctor, who replied, “He’s the only one in this whole line with O negative, and that’s exactly what we need.”  The mother looked at her boy, the doctor looked at him as well, and asked, “Do you want to give blood to save Mr. Stanton?”  Without a moment of hesitation the boy looked up to the doctor and said “Yes”  Then he looked to his Mom and Dad, and with a small tear on his cheek he handed them his stuffed giraffe and said, “Mom – give this to Betsy when she’s older, and tell her I love her and I’ll see her in heaven.”  To which the mother broke down in tears and hugged her small boy, while the dad and doctor stood there amazed at this young boy’s compassion and willingness to die for another person to live.  They calmly explained to the boy that he wouldn’t die, but it was just a procedure to take a little bit of blood from him and give it to Mr. Stanton.

Jesus Christ, when asked to take on the sins of the world and die for these sins, said to the Father – “Yes, I will die for them.”  With unbelievable and profound love for people he had never even met, He took upon Himself the sins of all mankind and became our sacrifice.  Let this story be an example for you to hold onto as you consider just how much God loves you.

Our Hope Lies in a Savior

"O Lord, thou art my God; I will exalt thee, I will praise thy name; for thou hast done wonderful things; thy counsels of old are faithfulness and truth" - Isaiah 25:1

The battle is 2000 years old.  The players have changed, but the contest has not.  One side will claim that the other is close-minded, while they rest upon their own laurels without a full investigation of the truth.  From the very lips and actions of one of the most revered missionaries of all time, Saul of Tarsus (Paul the Apostle), to the Jewish religious leaders of the 1st century AD, to the Roman Empire through the 4th century AD, and from Islam from the 7th century on, the Christian church has suffered persecution, torture, and even death.  Through the years, other religions have come along.  Some sustained time, others did not; some denying the very existence of this man Jesus Christ, others acknowledging him as a great prophet or kindly man, but denying His deity.   The question(s) have never really changed: “Prove that He lived”; “Prove that He was born of a virgin”; “Prove that He died, rose again, and ascended to heaven”; “Prove that He is the Messiah foretold in the Prophecies.”

Many have now resorted to disputing the very existence of God at all, and thereby deducing that there is no Son of God.  Atheism is defined as the rejection of belief in deities.  The first known acknowledgement of atheism came in the late 16th century.  It actually has some scriptural reference as far back as 62 AD, by Paul in his letters to the Ephesians (2:12), where he clearly calls out those who believe that there is no God within the world. It’s evident that even in the days of Jesus followers in Colosse, Ephesus, and Corinth, there were those who also believed in a world without God.

So, for all of these years, the growth of Christianity has spread into countries all around the globe.  People of every race, creed, culture, and economic class are following this One called Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord of their lives.  What is it that ties all of these believers, including myself, together?  The stories of Jesus paint a picture of a loving God, a compassionate lover of the oppressed and helper of the weak.  A miracle maker who could turn water into wine, raise the dead, heal the lame, and even forgive sins.  The scriptures tell of His glory, His demeanor, and His mercies.  His wisdom is evidenced through His teachings and knowledge of the scriptures and customs of the time, well before He was mature.  He wasn’t educated in the Universities like the Sadducees and Pharisees, nor was he skilled in money collection like those who worked for Rome.  His knowledge was far superior and came from somewhere beyond human capabilities.  This is the man Jesus Christ that the scriptures tell us about.  So to deny Jesus Christ means two things: A) the person has no belief that the scriptures are true, and B) the person has no ability for faith in things unseen/unproven.

Some are looking for facts, proof of this man’s existence and position in God’s Kingdom.  Yet, to what benefit is there in proving these things?  Christianity is a monotheism, indicating that there is one and only one way to God the Father, and that is through Jesus Christ the Son, as stated plainly in the scriptures in John 14:6.  What is required then is to have faith in something that you cannot see, and hope in something beyond our understanding.  People continue to look for proof though; – the Shroud of Turin, the tomb of Mary, or Veronica’s veil as examples.  These people are seeking verification that A) their heart is not lying to them; and B) substantiation that their hope is well-founded.

By nature, we are constantly looking to solve life’s mysteries so we can check that box and move on.  I think there are those in life who would like to put a checkmark in the salvation box and then get on with living their life unchanged, unmotivated to pursue righteousness and satisfied that they would still receive heaven in the end.  This is not following the Savior and Lord of our lives.  Faith and Hope are often tied together as basic tenets of Christianity along with love, because they are beyond our perception and physical acceptance.  Hope is essential.  It keeps us focused on the end game.  It gives us reason to wake up and live one more day to fulfill God’s plan for that day.  Faith is essential.  It provides the confidence that what we know in our heart is the truth, and without proof, we are still willing to accept it and live up to the expectations therein.  Love is essential.  Christ loved us through His redeeming grace and suffering on the cross.  Likewise, we are to love others as He has loved us.  FAITH – HOPE – LOVE; the building block of your walk with God begins here.

When the Wind Blows

“For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the wishing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not. For the good that I wish, I do not do; but I practice the very evil that I do not wish. ” - Romans 7:18-19

When the wind blows through the trees, we know it simply by observing the leaves moving. This is evidence that there is some physical change taking place that has altered the existence of the foliage. This represents a logical conclusion from an alternate point of reference. We deduce that the wind is blowing, not because we see the wind, but because we see the result of the wind. Yet it is completely logical and possible that the leaves are blowing because the tree moved from its foundation. An earthquake tremor or a busy squirrel (depending on the size of the tree) could just as easily cause movement before our eyes. So without a 2nd point of reference, we can't really draw a confident conclusion, only a supposition.

So, what evidence is there in your life that you are walking with the Holy Spirit? Are others able to look at you and deduce that you must be walking with God, or are you silently still in His presence? Paul tells us in Romans that our flesh, this vessel that carries our soul on this earth, is sinful even though our heart and mind are pure. We cannot get away from sin as long as we are drawing breath and blood is flowing through our veins.

Knowing that we are inherently sinful in our flesh, we must resort to extreme self-discipline to His word. It is imperative that our mind and heart are fueled daily with His word, and it becomes part of our DNA. One day, this human existence will expire, and our flesh, bones, organs, and muscles will return to dust. But in that glorious day, the Holy Spirit will take our souls to be joined with our Savior and Father in eternal peace. Do not let your earthly existence establish the standard by which your soul will be judged one day. As the tree gives way to the quiet existence of a wind blowing through, so should your soul give way to the Holy Spirit and likewise demonstrate that to all who look upon your life. 

Read it, Learn it, Live it, Share it.

Interesting Reflection for Today

“He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.  I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live.” – Ecclesiastes 3:11-12

Quotes from Rich Palmer

Living our lives through yesterday’s lenses will weaken the spirit and increase the resistance to pursuing His purpose.

Tomorrow is nothing more than a figment of your imagination, for when it arrives, it has become today.  Live in the present, love those around you, and serve God in your present place.

The glory days of your past have etched a place in your memory, but when drawn upon, are no longer quite as fulfilling. 

Let your yesterday’s stay where they are, for in trying to relive them you must accept the good and the bad.  Rather, open your eyes and seek those in your present who need to create memories with you today.

What value do we have in worrying about what is to come when the next breath you take may very well be your last.

There is no such thing as tomorrow; there is only today and a history of yesterday’s waiting for tomorrow.  Serve God with all you have today.

If your past was so incredible, then how did you get to a place in life where you are longing for those days instead of the one you are living in?

I have found that the biggest challenge in life is regretting what we might have done with the time that has passed, and yet we don’t change the way we are planning to use the time in front of us.

These are my thoughts on time this morning.  I find myself longing for the courage and strength to pursue life with a new perspective each day and offer change to the mistakes of my past, so that I can help others have a better future.  We are only here for a moment in the grand scheme of existence.  The reality is that this life is truly something that we take for granted, and regardless of accomplishments, will be found lacking when completed.  Treasure each moment that God has given you, check your thoughts before speaking, calm your emotions before reacting, and put on the peace of your Savior before confronting those who may be different than you.  For in this life, you are only given one chance to make a difference, and then you will die.  This is a fact for each and every one of you.  We are all destined for the same conclusion in this life, and there is no way to avoid it.  When achieved, your decisions in this life will have an eternal impact on what comes next, so don’t take it lightly. 

I love each of you, and will be remiss in my life’s purpose if I don’t implore you to seek Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord.  Truly seek Him and test His love for you as complete, unchanging, and infinite in depth.  There is nothing you can do to separate yourself from His love.  For in His death and resurrection, He has washed away the worst ugliness that you can imagine from your past.  Your time is moving forward at the same pace as every other person around you.  Choose today to make the most of what little time you have left on this earth.  Live with a purpose to impact others in a manner that extends beyond the finite breath that exists in their lungs.

No Gossiping in the Halls

"Whoever covers an offense seeks love, but he who repeats a matter separates close friends."  - Proverbs 17:9

How many friends have been lost because of a disagreement on an act of unrighteousness?  I have heard so many times - "Loose lips sink ships", or "Snitches get stitches", and what that person gains in their actions.  This verse is "He who covers a transgression seeks love, ...." (KJV), and this makes it even more meaningful.  When your neighbor sins, are you the first to tell your other neighbor or a friend?  Why?  What are you to gain by disclosing the sinful action of one person to another?

Romans 3:23 tells us, "For all have sinned, and fallen short of the glory of God."  All means all.  You, me, my co-worker, my children, my parents, and even my Pastor.  We have all sinned in life, despite all of our attempts not to.  This separates us from God; it should not also separate us from each other.  Certainly, there are those "offenses" that bring harm to others, and must be brought to the attention of the authorities, but as Jesus told the Pharisees and Sadducees, "You, without sin, cast the first stone..." when looking upon the woman caught in the act of adultery. 

We are asked by our Lord and Savior to follow His command - "Love God with all of your heart, soul, and your spirit, and love others as yourself."  This is good advice.  Love them, forgive them, let God work out the judgment part in His due time.  In 1 Peter 4:8, we read, "Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins."  Become a strong friend to theother by not gossiping, disclosing, sharing, or celebrating their sins.  Stand with your friend and show them love.  We should want all to enter into heaven one day, which means you want to be there to support your friend when their faith is struggling.  You can't do that if you are talking about them behind their back.  

I am not asking you to condone their sin.  Not at all.  We want to be there to help walk them through it, to support them, and help them be accountable.  Help them to see through scripture and prayer the sin of their actions without judging them.  You are not the judge, nor am I, but there is One who will judge in His due time.  Help them to lean into God's grace and forgiveness, with repentance, in love, not in gossiping about it.  You will need their help one day, too.

Count Your Blessings

“Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.”  - 1 John 4:11-12

When he walked into the room, there was a hush and stares.  His clothes were tattered, and his shoes had holes in the toes.  He hadn’t shaved in years, and the small wool hat on his head barely covered his greasy, tangled grey hair.  Missing a front tooth, he smiled as he made his way to the table in the front of the elegant room and began filling his plate with food.  The others gathered at this extravagant ball stared in shock as he proceeded to move down the buffet line and shoved a few rolls into the pocket of his large, oversized coat.  He was wearing one glove, missing the tips on a few of the fingers, and his other hand was covered in dirt and grease, looking weathered from the elements outside.  With a plate in one hand and a styrofoam cup of coffee in the other, he turned to walk back through the silent crowd towards the door.   Murmuring and gasping could be heard around the crowded room as his stench floated about the room.  Many turned away and covered their nose with their diamond-adorned hands and handkerchiefs.  As he neared the door, he stopped and picked up a bulletin/flyer from the small basket, which read, “Wellington Charity Ball for the Homeless - $1,000 donation per plate”.  He looked at the plate in his hand and then set it down.  He turned to the group behind him and said, “I’m sorry, I thought the food was for the homeless.”  With that, he stepped back out into the snow-covered street.

How do we express our love to those in our sphere of influence?  How are we impacting the lives of those around us to demonstrate the love of Christ, which was poured out for them as much as it was for you and I?  We are blessed, despite how unfortunate we might feel at any given time.  Consider that if you own a home, a car, a TV, an iPhone (or Android), and have a computer, your net worth places you in the top 15th percentile of the World’s wealthiest people.  All around us are people suffering from job loss, health issues, tragedy, homelessness, abuse, and so many other things.  We are the body of Christ, and it is our job to reach out to help those who are hungry, hurting, and struggling.  You and I are blessed for the sole purpose to spread His love and to advance His kingdom, not for our own personal gain over the least of these. 

As Jesus stated in Matthew 25:34-40:
““Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.  For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in,  I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?  When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you?  When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’  “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’”