Follow Jesus…plus nothing.
Recently I have used this phrase often. I use it very sincerely. I desperately want to follow Jesus with nothing added. But the reality is my life does not completely look like Jesus said it will if I follow him plus nothing.
*Jesus said, if I follow him, I will be a fisher of men. (Mat 4:19)
*Jesus said if I follow him, I will be where he is. (Jo 12:26)
*Jesus said if I follow him, I will deny myself. (Mat 8:34, Lu 9:23)
Admittedly, I do not know much about fishing for fish. I do not particularly enjoy fishing. If I did, I’m sure I would have made the effort to know more about it. But, as a follower of Jesus, I will want to fish for men. I will not only want to fish for men, but I will learn about it from Jesus and do it. Do I?
Closely correlated to the fishing, is the fact that a follower of Jesus will be where He is. Am I willing to follow Him anywhere? Do I listen to Him or do I listen to tradition? Am I willing to go outside of my comfort zone – with or without the approval of others? Am I willing to meet any person He puts into my path? Am I willing to love any person He puts into my path? Am I willing to be Jesus to absolutely anyone? Am I?
Finally, the key to the fishing and following anywhere, is denying myself. That word “denying” is defined, “to affirm that one has no acquaintance or connection with someone; to forget one’s self, lose sight of one’s self and one’s own interests.” I believe this is a progression. When I deny what I know to deny and follow Jesus, the journey itself will reveal various self-interests that I still cling to. As they are revealed, am I willing to continuing denying? Will I?
That is following Jesus as defined by Jesus. What about the plus nothing?
It’s simple. What ingredients do I try to add?
*Do I believe one must look a certain way to follow Jesus?
*Do I believe one must attend a certain church at certain times to follow Jesus?
*Do I believe one must read certain books or Bible versions to follow Jesus?
*Do I believe one must participate in certain activities to follow Jesus?
*Do I believe one must worship or not worship in a certain way to follow Jesus?
*Do I believe…
…well, the list would grow quite lengthy if I were to enumerate the many different convictions, preferences and tastes identified among individuals and cultures. But they are just that -- convictions, preferences and tastes.
Do I follow Jesus? Plus nothing? Jesus, help me.
Friday, July 6, 2012
Thursday, July 5, 2012
Hated
If the world hates you, you know that it hated me before it hated you. – Jesus (John 15:18)
Hate is a strong word. It means just what you think it does: to hate, pursue with hatred, detest. Strong language! There is not much talk in Christian circles about hatred. It is not a pleasant topic. But, if it was important enough for Jesus to address, we probably should too.
Jesus explained that it is necessary to talk about the fact that the world will hate His followers so that his followers will not be offended – literally meaning to put a stumbling block or impediment in the way, upon which one may trip and fall. (John 16:1) In other words, when the going gets tough, stand.
I think there are some questions we should ponder in regard to this topic of being hated:
*Why do they hate me?
-Is my Christ-likeness offending them?
-Or am I just offensive?
*Why don’t they hate me?
-Do I seek to please men more than God?
-Is there a difference between me and the world?
I have met some Christians who appear to make it their goal to be hated. They are rather hateful and they are hated by many. Though they can proudly proclaim they are hated for the cause of Christ, they are ineffective in God’s kingdom.
I have met other Christians who appear to make it their goal not to be hated. Though they proudly proclaim they are loved by almost everyone, they are also ineffective in God’s kingdom.
I know which is my tendency. Do you?
The reality is, our goal is neither to be hated or to be loved but to follow Jesus. We need to be Jesus to those around us. When we are, some will hate us; others will come to love Jesus. If they hate us, we shouldn’t be surprised or offended. If they come to love Jesus, we should celebrate!
Paul puts it this way in 2 Corinthians 2:14-17: Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place. For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life.
We can keep this issue of being hated very simple. There is nothing we must do to get it right other than follow Jesus and be like him.
Follow Jesus...plus nothing.
Hate is a strong word. It means just what you think it does: to hate, pursue with hatred, detest. Strong language! There is not much talk in Christian circles about hatred. It is not a pleasant topic. But, if it was important enough for Jesus to address, we probably should too.
Jesus explained that it is necessary to talk about the fact that the world will hate His followers so that his followers will not be offended – literally meaning to put a stumbling block or impediment in the way, upon which one may trip and fall. (John 16:1) In other words, when the going gets tough, stand.
I think there are some questions we should ponder in regard to this topic of being hated:
*Why do they hate me?
-Is my Christ-likeness offending them?
-Or am I just offensive?
*Why don’t they hate me?
-Do I seek to please men more than God?
-Is there a difference between me and the world?
I have met some Christians who appear to make it their goal to be hated. They are rather hateful and they are hated by many. Though they can proudly proclaim they are hated for the cause of Christ, they are ineffective in God’s kingdom.
I have met other Christians who appear to make it their goal not to be hated. Though they proudly proclaim they are loved by almost everyone, they are also ineffective in God’s kingdom.
I know which is my tendency. Do you?
The reality is, our goal is neither to be hated or to be loved but to follow Jesus. We need to be Jesus to those around us. When we are, some will hate us; others will come to love Jesus. If they hate us, we shouldn’t be surprised or offended. If they come to love Jesus, we should celebrate!
Paul puts it this way in 2 Corinthians 2:14-17: Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place. For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life.
We can keep this issue of being hated very simple. There is nothing we must do to get it right other than follow Jesus and be like him.
Follow Jesus...plus nothing.
Monday, July 2, 2012
Efficiency Evaluation
I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch…that bears fruit, he purges it, that it may bring forth more fruit. – Jesus (John 15)
If you are a follower of Jesus, you are a branch (John 15:5). In the context of John 15, a true follower of Jesus bears fruit and a true follower is purged in order to bear more fruit. The Greek word translated as “purged” is kathairo, meaning “to cleanse, of filth impurity” and also “to prune trees and vines from useless shoots.”
That reminds me of Hebrews 12:1 where Paul admonishes us to lay aside every weight (useless shoots) and sin (filth, impurity) that besets us and to run with patience the race that is set before us.
These two metaphors of the Christian life describe efficiency - achieving maximum productivity with minimum wasted effort or expense (dictionary.com). Efficiency is this age is highly esteemed. Apparently, it has always been highly esteemed by God. But are our efforts aimed at efficiency properly focused? Are we efficient fruit bearers? Are we efficient racers?
We say our church is efficient...
-Our debt reduction plan is progressive.
-Our budget is streamlined (we are good stewards).
-Our technology is up to date.
-Our services pack the most power into the least amount of time.
-Our ministries reach a lot of people.
-Our…
But if we evaluate our efficiency by God's standards...
-Do we know what fruit He desires?
-Do we bear that fruit?
-Do we continue to bear more of that fruit?
-Do we know what race He set before us?
-Do we run that race?
-Do we patiently run that race?
God, inspect our fruit and evaluate our race. Cleanse us of impurities and rid us of excess so that we may be our best for You.
Follow Jesus...plus nothing.
If you are a follower of Jesus, you are a branch (John 15:5). In the context of John 15, a true follower of Jesus bears fruit and a true follower is purged in order to bear more fruit. The Greek word translated as “purged” is kathairo, meaning “to cleanse, of filth impurity” and also “to prune trees and vines from useless shoots.”
That reminds me of Hebrews 12:1 where Paul admonishes us to lay aside every weight (useless shoots) and sin (filth, impurity) that besets us and to run with patience the race that is set before us.
These two metaphors of the Christian life describe efficiency - achieving maximum productivity with minimum wasted effort or expense (dictionary.com). Efficiency is this age is highly esteemed. Apparently, it has always been highly esteemed by God. But are our efforts aimed at efficiency properly focused? Are we efficient fruit bearers? Are we efficient racers?
We say our church is efficient...
-Our debt reduction plan is progressive.
-Our budget is streamlined (we are good stewards).
-Our technology is up to date.
-Our services pack the most power into the least amount of time.
-Our ministries reach a lot of people.
-Our…
But if we evaluate our efficiency by God's standards...
-Do we know what fruit He desires?
-Do we bear that fruit?
-Do we continue to bear more of that fruit?
-Do we know what race He set before us?
-Do we run that race?
-Do we patiently run that race?
God, inspect our fruit and evaluate our race. Cleanse us of impurities and rid us of excess so that we may be our best for You.
Follow Jesus...plus nothing.
Friday, June 29, 2012
Devastating Division
Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
Affection:
1) to have understanding, be wise
2) to feel, to think
3) to direct one’s mind to a thing, to seek, to strive for
Also translated as:
-think
-regard
-mind, be minded, be of the same mind, be like minded
-savour
When we divide our affection between God and any other person/thing, the results are devastating. Oh, how easily deceived we are in regard to affection! There is much on my mind about this topic, but I don't think I can say it better than the following paragraphs from Watchman Nee's book, The Spiritual Man.
Yielding one's affection to the Lord may be viewed by the Christian to be a most difficult task, yet the Lord is concerned with one's affection more than with any other matter. He demands him to present his affection wholly to Him and let Him lord over it.
How much the work of God has suffered because of our failure to let the Lord be the Lord of our affections. Many parents cling to their children for themselves and permit the kingdom of God to incur loss. Countless husbands or wives are unwilling to make sacrifice and thus the harvest is left ungathered. Numerous Christians are so attached to their friends that they sit back and let their brethren fight at the front alone. It is deplorable how many think they can love their dear ones and the Lord simultaneously, not comprehending that by loving these, they cannot love the Lord.
We cannot but stress the significance of our loving the Lord with our whole heart. Nothing satisfies His heart as does our love. The Lord looks not for our laboring for Him but for our loving him...God's children have never fully understood how their loved ones could hinder their spiritual growth. As we begin to have other loves besides a love for God, however, we do discover that He gradually loses significance for us.
Actually, only God can satisfy a Christians' heart; man cannot. The failure of many is to seek from man what can be found only in God. All human affection is empty...Does this indicate we need not love man? The Bible repeatedly charges us to love the brethren and even to love our enemies. Accordingly, we know it is not God's will we should not love man, but He does desire to manage our affection towards all men. God does not want us to love others for our sake but to love for His sake and in Him...This is the pathway of the cross. Only as we allow it to cut deeply so that we have our soul life delivered to death can we be rid of self in our affections. If we genuinely have undergone death we will not be attached to anyone but will be guided solely by the command of God...How contrary such a course seems to Christians, and yet how blessed it is to those who so experience it!
Be honest. Do I love the Lord my God with all my heart?
Wth God all things are possible.
Follow Jesus...plus nothing.
Affection:
1) to have understanding, be wise
2) to feel, to think
3) to direct one’s mind to a thing, to seek, to strive for
Also translated as:
-think
-regard
-mind, be minded, be of the same mind, be like minded
-savour
When we divide our affection between God and any other person/thing, the results are devastating. Oh, how easily deceived we are in regard to affection! There is much on my mind about this topic, but I don't think I can say it better than the following paragraphs from Watchman Nee's book, The Spiritual Man.
Yielding one's affection to the Lord may be viewed by the Christian to be a most difficult task, yet the Lord is concerned with one's affection more than with any other matter. He demands him to present his affection wholly to Him and let Him lord over it.
How much the work of God has suffered because of our failure to let the Lord be the Lord of our affections. Many parents cling to their children for themselves and permit the kingdom of God to incur loss. Countless husbands or wives are unwilling to make sacrifice and thus the harvest is left ungathered. Numerous Christians are so attached to their friends that they sit back and let their brethren fight at the front alone. It is deplorable how many think they can love their dear ones and the Lord simultaneously, not comprehending that by loving these, they cannot love the Lord.
We cannot but stress the significance of our loving the Lord with our whole heart. Nothing satisfies His heart as does our love. The Lord looks not for our laboring for Him but for our loving him...God's children have never fully understood how their loved ones could hinder their spiritual growth. As we begin to have other loves besides a love for God, however, we do discover that He gradually loses significance for us.
Actually, only God can satisfy a Christians' heart; man cannot. The failure of many is to seek from man what can be found only in God. All human affection is empty...Does this indicate we need not love man? The Bible repeatedly charges us to love the brethren and even to love our enemies. Accordingly, we know it is not God's will we should not love man, but He does desire to manage our affection towards all men. God does not want us to love others for our sake but to love for His sake and in Him...This is the pathway of the cross. Only as we allow it to cut deeply so that we have our soul life delivered to death can we be rid of self in our affections. If we genuinely have undergone death we will not be attached to anyone but will be guided solely by the command of God...How contrary such a course seems to Christians, and yet how blessed it is to those who so experience it!
Be honest. Do I love the Lord my God with all my heart?
Wth God all things are possible.
Follow Jesus...plus nothing.
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Work the Walk
This little section on works is squeezed in between Jesus' discourse to his disciples on knowing him and loving him. In the context of loving him, Jesus emphasizes obedience. He also promises the Holy Spirit for comfort and empowerment to do those things.
Ponders:
*Do I know Jesus? Really?
Or do I know what other people know about Jesus?
*Do I love Jesus? Really?
Or do I love the idea of loving Jesus?
Proofs:
*Do I do the works that Jesus did and greater?
(Do I even ask? Why not?)
*Do I obey him and only him?
(Do I obey religion? Why?)
It is true that my relationship with Jesus begins and ends with Jesus alone. It is not dependent on anything that I do. Ever.
But faith without works is dead. Always.
Work the walk.
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
United Way
Teach me your way, O LORD; and I will walk in your truth: unite my heart to fear your name.
Where I go, you know, and the way you know...I am the way, the truth and the life: no man comes unto the Father but by me. (Jesus)
Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord...
*Is my heart united with God's to know his way?
*How well do I know The Way?
*Does my quest to know Jesus surpass all things?
*Do I really follow Jesus or do I follow man's ideas of following Jesus?
Ask Him.
Monday, June 25, 2012
Perspective
Jesus answered him, “Will you lay down your life for My sake? Most assuredly, I say to you, the rooster shall not crow till you have denied Me three times. Have you seen this on a Facebook post or another place?
How others see us. (picture)
How we see ourselves. (picture)
How we really are. (picture)
That is what I think of when I read this verse in John.
How others saw Peter's faith: Real.
How Peter saw his faith: Radical.
How Jesus saw his faith: Rising.
It is not surprising that Jesus' perspective proved to be accurate. His perspective of our faith is accurate, too. Just ask the rich young ruler (Mark 10). He wanted to be a follower of Jesus. Jesus wanted him to follow. Jesus loved him. The man had done everything he knew he was supposed to do to be good follower. Jesus congratulated him on that and then challenged him...give up your treasure for treasure in heaven.
As the young man walked away with bowed head and sagging shoulders, his unspoken words were probably, "But I thought...."
Perhaps you have heard or even said something like: "God did not ask me to check my brain at the door." It is true that God did not ask us to quit thinking, but God did ask us to quit thinking like the world and all that is in the world and to trust Him with every single area of our lives.
Following Jesus is more than doing right things. Following Jesus is more than not doing wrong things. Following Jesus is exclusive trust. What are you trusting...too?
*Family?*Friends?
*Wealth?
*Poverty?*Education?
*Career?
*Talents/abilities?*Health/life insurance?
*Stocks/bonds/investments?
*Savings account/college fund?*Preventative or maintenance medicine?
These things our not necessarily wrong but do you find yourself thinking:
"There is nothing wrong with _______."
"God would not ask me to give that up."
"I would not be a good steward if I ______.""That is not logical!"
Perhaps those thoughts are accurate. Perhaps they are not. Have you asked Him, "What must I do"?
How do you see your faith? How does God see your faith?
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