A Call to Follow Christ

When we think about our relationship to God, we usually think of how Jesus has saved us by grace, how He answers prayers, and how great is His love towards us. 

But what does it mean to love Jesus?  Our Lord made it very plain for us:  “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.”  (John 14:15)

In another place He said, “Why do you call me ‘Lord, ‘Lord,’ and not do what I tell you?” 

Many people hear the words of our Lord Jesus, but do not apply them to their lives.  This is like a man who builds a house on a foundation of sand.  When the trials come, the house collapses and the loss is great.

Those who hear His words and follow them are like a man who digs deep to build his house on solid rock.  In the storms of life, he will remain stable. 

The heart that God delights in….  (Matthew 5:3-12)

Poor in spirit – awareness of personal dependence on God.  Opposite of prideful independence and self-will.

Mourning – sorrow over one’s sins, and the sins of the world.

Meek – yielding to the wishes of others rather than oppressing others for selfish gain.

Hunger and thirst for righteousness – passionate to be righteous in the righteousness of Christ.

Merciful – giving aid to others at a cost to one’s self.

Pure in heart – genuine motives, not a hypocrite.

Peace-making – considerate instead of contentious.

Willing to suffer persecution rather than to violate one’s conscience toward God. 

The life that Jesus taught us to live… (Matthew 5-7)

Restrain your anger rather than wound the dignity of another person.  Angry words hurt; and are not easily forgotten.  They damage a person’s sense of worth.

Reconcile with others before giving an offering to God. Do all that is in your power to seek forgiveness and peace.

Make agreements with adversaries before conflicts escalate.  Cut your losses by compromising rather than fighting. 

Give your husband or wife a total commitment of a total marriage.  Emotional flirtation, or lustful gazing are the first steps of infidelity.  Do whatever it takes to prevent inappropriate involvement with someone who is not your spouse. 

Keep finding reasons to stay married rather than to get divorced.  Marriage is a one-flesh bond which God has joined together, and He intends to keep together. Anyone who breaks it apart will suffer the  vengeance of God (1 Thessalonians 4:6).

Keep your word, fulfill your promises.  No one should need a signed oath from you.  Your reputation should be enough to guarantee that you will follow through.

Overcome evil with good.  “Turning the other cheek” does not mean exposing ourselves to violent attacks.  It means pacifying the violence by doing good.

Love your enemy.  Remember that our Lord asked God to forgive those who crucified Him, because they did not realize what they were doing.  Our enemies are no different.  And when we speak blessing on them, do good to them, and pray for them we are not  the loser.  We are the victorious overcomer. 

Do your devotions secretly.  Your acts of charity, your prayer seasons, your fasting– let it be done secretly between you and the Lord.  Otherwise you will risk becoming a hypocrite, doing it just to receive praise and admiration from other people. 

Follow this pattern in prayer:  First, sanctify God’s Name in your heart. Second, make request for God’s interests to be fulfilled– the expansion of His kingdom and His will to be done on earth.  Third, request what you need for your life TODAY.  Not  for the week or month.  Daily dependence is the key.  Fourth, forgive those who have trespassed against you, and then ask forgiveness for your own sins.  Finally, close your prayer  with worship.  Verbally acknowledge that God is sovereign over all, and all honor goes to Him alone.

Do not make financial wealth your goal.  Instead, make financial responsibility your goal, and spiritual wealth as your retirement plan.  Invest in people, not securities.  The focus of your life, whether God or mammon, will make your life either full of light or of darkness and emptiness. 

Do not worry about your livelihood.  Focus on seeking God’s kingdom and His righteousness as you fulfill your vocation.  If you do this, God will supply your needs.

Do not criticize other people for their shortcomings.  When you become aware of another person’s faults, examine yourself to see if you are guilty of the same faults.  For example, if we are annoyed by someone who is late for meetings, maybe we have been inconsiderate of other people’s time in other ways. 

Use discernment in sharing God’s truth with others.  “Casting pearls before swine” is an analogy for speaking the precious truths of God’s words to evil mockers and scorners.  The unregenerate world takes the holy words of God and twists them to accuse Him of being unjust or unloving. 

Look to God for what you need.  “Ask, seek, knock.” Be as a child to a loving father who, even on his worst day would give to his son or daughter what they ask.

Speak and act toward others the way you would want them to speak and act toward you.  This applies both to the member of your family as well as stranger at the supermarket.  This is not merely how you wish others would act, but how you wish that YOU would act if you were in the place of the other person. 

 Don’t believe every individual who claims to speak for God.  False prophets and teachers can be discerned by the character of their lives.  Either their lives and words produce goodness, righteousness, and truth; or else they are self-indulgent and teach others to be the same way. 

 The New Commandment….

The commandment to “love your neighbor as you love yourself” was well-known since Moses gave it.  The new commandment was to “love one another as I have loved you.”  (John 13:34).  This is a love that far exceeds good will to neighbors.  It is a love that makes sacrifices for other followers of Christ. 

A love that washes feet.  Serving the needs of others in ways that the world would consider demeaning. Jesus washed the disciples’ feet. 

A love that erases social distinctions.  Differences in race, nationality, social class, and gender– which are sharply defined by the world– do not determine or limit the love of Christ’s followers for one another.

A love that never dies.  Jesus loved His own and He loved them unto the end.