Truly Someone to Follow (day 7)

For it is clear that it is not the angels that he helps. Instead, he helps the descendants of Abraham. This means that he had to become like his people in every way, in order to be their faithful and merciful High Priest in his service to God, so that the people's sins would be forgiven. And now he can help those who are tempted, because he himself was tempted and suffered. (Hebrews 2:16-18)

This looks like it says that Jesus was just like me. In fact, it seems to say that it was necessary for him to be just like me.

This is amazing and it makes Jesus even more wonderful for me. If he wasn’t just like me, how could he show me how I am supposed to live. He says, “follow me.” I can only follow someone who has my same characteristics and limitations. Jesus did!

For both he that sanctifies and they that are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren, (Hebrews 2:11)

And Jesus says, “Behold, my mother and my brethren! For whosoever shall do the will of my Father who is in heaven, he is my brother, and sister, and mother.” (Matthew 12:49-50)

Jesus truly did identify with us and is therefore supremely equipped to show us the way to draw near to the father and to enter into full salvation. He has gone this way before us to show us how to live (Hebrews 12:2). Let us each one decide absolutely to find the grace to follow where he leads.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank you so very much that you have made Jesus just like us in order to be the perfect sacrifice and the perfect pioneer to lead each of us back to obedience and salvation. Help us to have receptive hearts to follow more and more faithfully. In the name of our perfect savior and elder brother, Jesus; Amen.

vi. Change Your Mind (day 6)

Have this mind in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: who, existing in the form of God, did not consider being on an equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men; and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, becoming obedient even unto death, yea, the death of the cross. (Philippians 2:5-8)

The mind of Christ

What an exalted sounding idea! Right up until you look at what it meant for our Lord Jesus.

Try to think if you will of the scope of Jesus’ condescension. Try to get some idea of what it was to have been there before time began, and then to have had a principal role in the creation and the maintenance of absolutely everything. Then he lowered himself to be born to the family of a simple carpenter in a very primitive time and in an unpleasant political situation, on purpose.

So, if this is the mind of Christ and we are told to have this mind, is there any task that I can justify thinking that it is below my dignity or too dirty or unpleasant for me to do?

What an amazing challenge! There is absolutely no possible way that any of us can accomplish this command from God’s Word without God’s wonderful assistance. But God’s will for us is that we succeed. So his help is assured.

Blessed Father in Heaven, here we see a command that is surely impossible if we do not learn to lean fully on you for the help that only you can give. Help us each one to be growing daily in the ever present realization of our need for your living help to do your will.

Begin at the Beginning (day 5)

In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. (Genesis 1:1)

In the beginning was the word, and the word was with God and the word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him and without him was not anything made that was made. (John 1:1-4)

And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us (and we beheld his glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father), full of grace and truth. (John 1:14)

Do you believe that the Bible is the Word of God? Really? If you do take a few moments to read these verses again and really think about how big these statements are. Really STOP and think!

This is Jesus!

These words are true!

To add anything to these words or to explain them only seems to confuse or dilute the intention. Let us each one look seriously at these words of introduction.

Father in heaven you are the author of all life and Jesus is our savior and our guide for all things. Speak to me the fullest meaning of these words that I can understand. Overwhelm me with your majesty and with the majesty of Jesus.

A Wonderful Terrifying Invitation (day 4)

Jesus says, “Come unto me all of you who labor and are burdened down, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30)

Jesus is inviting those who are burdened down with labor and care. Does that apply to you?

The world is full of sorrow and disappointment. People all around are thoughtless and there seems to be a lot of hatred going around. When I look at myself, I see failure to be the kind of person I believe I should be. And I cannot find the power to change these things in myself.

Jesus is inviting me and he is inviting you, if you are troubled by these things.

It is very important to look at the things Jesus is offering, because what he is proposing can be very frightening. Jesus says, “I will give you rest.” Again, he says, “you will find rest for your soul.” And finally he tells us, “my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

A yoke is a solid device for harnessing the strength of two animals to accomplish the task that the master has for them. Once the yoke is on, there is no escape and the animals must move together. Jesus is inviting you and I to voluntarily step into such a harness. If we will he also promises rest from our labors and cares, and he promises that the burden will be one that we can bear.

Father in Heaven, on one hand this invitation seems too good to be true and on the other hand it sounds too frightening to attempt. Please, give me the courage and the ability to go forward and accept your wonderful terrifying invitation. 

Simple words Surprised me again (day 3)

Sometimes I am amazed that I can read a passage of God’s Word over and over and then on the umpteenth time I see something that is extremely simple and plane that I have never seen before. God’s Word truly is living and active to cut between soul and spirit, joints and marrow and is a discerner of the thoughts and intentions of my heart.

As I was reading this evening in Ephesians 6:10-18, I was stopped dead at verse 13 & 14a.

Wherefore take up the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and, having done all, to stand. Stand therefore,

Now a long time ago when I went to school these were called imperative sentences. These are instructions to be obeyed. Now if you go back and look at this entire passage, it is full of imperative sentences; “Be strong in the Lord…” (vs 10), “Put on the whole armor of God…” (vs 11), “Praying always, with all prayer and supplication…” (vs 18)

If I am a follower of Jesus, if I am a disciple of Jesus, these are not suggestions. I need to take them very seriously. These very serious words speak of doing. They speak of discipline to learn to think and see in the same way that Jesus and our Father sees.

I need grace for this. So I must constantly follow the advice of Hebrews 4:16.

Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in the time of need.

Blessed Father in Heaven, you see the whole day that is before me today. Indeed, you see all my days. Give me grace to prepare prayerfully to be salt and light in whatever lies ahead for my day. So that I might glorify you and my precious savior, Jesus. Amen

The Word of God is Revolutionary (day 2)

The Word of God is Revolutionary.

All around we can see those who triumph by the strength of men. Some by physical strength and some by force of will. Some are able to purchase power with money and others by clever arguments.

God’s Word points me in another direction, if I will be willing to do what it says. Probably one of the most revolutionary statements can be found in 1 Corinthians 1:18.

The Message of the cross is foolish to those who are headed for destruction! But we who are being saved know it is the very power of God.

I am extremely thankful for the message of redemption. Jesus died on the cross to save us, or buy us back from the penalty of sin and rebellion. But consider for a moment all of the passages which speak of “working out your salvation” of “be transformed,” and from Jesus, “if you love me keep my commandments.” There are many more if we take the time to look.

The message of the cross is the message that God has chosen to show each of us how to be victorious in a world full of strife. We can be victorious without strife. Now that is revolutionary!

Jesus and the apostles spoke often about this cross but they didn’t always call it by that name. Jesus said, “He who would be greatest, let him be the one who serves.” And Paul said, “Love suffers long and is kind.” As I look around in God’s Word I constantly see places where He commands me to lay down that thing called my life, in order to become one who can have His life within myself. Jesus is saying,

“If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me. For whoever will save his life shall lose it, but whoever will lose his life for My sake, he shall save it.” (Luke 9:23-24)

Father in Heaven, help me to see in each situation that you are offering me an opportunity for more complete salvation, if I will choose to take up my cross and say, “Not my will, but yours be done, Oh Lord.” 

Daily thoughts (Day 1)

It has been growing in my mind and heart to learn faithfulness in preparing a Daily Thought to share with those who read this blog. My main emphasis is always Discipleship. My purpose is to share what is a help to me as a disciple. Pray with me that I may be faithful. this first thought is not new but it is relevant. I hope you find it encouraging.

Lately I have been thinking about a question. Why be a disciple of Jesus instead of just a Christian? This morning I got a clear answer. I am so inclined to doing my own will and living in unbelief. If I do not actively practice disciplines that keep the reality of The Living God at the front of my mind I will very quickly blunder into sin. I will do my own will rather than follow Jesus and do the Will of God. I will fall away from the living relationship that he desires for me. Then all that will be left is dead religion.

The Word of God is full of wonderful promises for those who will follow Jesus and DO what he says. the biggest problem is, the things he says to do are contrary to my natural inclination. The only way to learn to do God’s Will is discipline which I have to learn. However, learning them is IMPOSSIBLE, without the Grace of God. That is what grace is for, to give me the power to become a son of God. (John 1:12 KJV)

But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. (1Co 2:9)

Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. (John 6:68)

As I begin to consider the disciplines of the disciple, I see a great need to explore and share some of my reasons for pursuing Jesus as a disciple. As I think and pray about this I see that my desire has grown over the years. I also see that it waxes and wanes in different situations. Truly the Grace of God has been the thing that has kept me over the years. He has used different methods and people to teach me more and more about his Love and the life he wants me to live.

I cannot tell anyone what they must do to be a true disciple of Jesus. But, I believe that discipleship is learning to be like the one whose disciple you are. In sharing these things, it is important to understand that I am only a very poor disciple sharing my little reflections and thoughts about the greatest mystery of all (Col. 1:27)