Are You An Authentic Follower Of Jesus?
Good Morning Friends,
In the book of Job there are lots of questions that Job asks God and God answers them with questions that prompt Job to learn to follow a new train of thought. We too, in service of Christ, need to think in new ways moved by the Spirit of love so as not to reject God’s Kingdom plan.
So, in keeping with God’s teaching techniques, I am going to ask a question but not give you an answer. You will have to figure this one out for yourself. So, Are You An Authentic Follower Of Jesus?
Scripture: Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind: “Have you commanded the morning since your days began, and caused the dawn to know its place, so that it might take hold of the skirts of the earth, and the wicked be shaken out of it? It is changed like clay under the seal, and it is dyed like a garment. Light is withheld from the wicked, and their uplifted arm is broken. “Have you entered into the springs of the sea, or walked in the recesses of the deep? Have the gates of death been revealed to you, or have you seen the gates of deep darkness? Have you comprehended the expanse of the earth? Declare, if you know all this. “Where is the way to the dwelling of light, and where is the place of darkness, that you may take it to its territory and that you may discern the paths to its home? Surely you know, for you were born then, and the number of your days is great! Then Job answered the Lord: “See, I am of small account; what shall I answer you? I lay my hand on my mouth. I have spoken once, and I will not answer; twice, but will proceed no further.”
Job 38:1, 12-21; 40:3-5 (NRSV)
“Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the deeds of power done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. But at the judgment it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon than for you. And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? No, you will be brought down to Hades. “Whoever listens to you listens to me, and whoever rejects you rejects me, and whoever rejects me rejects the one who sent me.”
Luke 10:13-16 (NRSV)
Message: Our joy is important but not more so than increasing the roles in heaven. I trust we all understand that we live in a post-Christian nation, that is, culturally we are no longer a nation that upholds conservative Judeo-Christian values or even conservative values. It used to be fifty years ago or more that even if someone was not a Christian they at least had traditional or conservative values and morals. But that is not true anymore. You need to understand this when you talk to people and not assume that everyone or even anyone will hold to your Christian values. We need perspective for mission work. Now this is not to say that morals are seen as less important…no, the exact opposition might be the case. But it is to say that people do not value church work, for too many hypocrites have been born out the holy huddles focused solely on providing a nice place to raise a family and start a business and enjoy the warm winters here in Florida and never engage in mission work. Friends wherever we are, God has us placed as missionaries to others, especially the vulnerable. And we need to engage others with the Good News about God in order to transform these places for God…not just for our own prosperity. For the places of prosperity will in time change and some fall from grace. Therefore we need to see ourselves as missionaries to the places we live but also to where God is working, for the universal church must be connected in missional outreach with Christ as the head leading. This is the only way to really follow Jesus.
Pray for the laborers in the mission field. Pray their hearts and ours are set on Kingdom purposes. Pray we not reject God’s ways. Pray therefore for the harvest to be both ripe and plentiful. Pray we trust God enough to take reasonable risks in service to the cause. Pray we align ourselves with God’s will. Pray we believe that God will use ordinary and imperfect people to do extraordinary things. Pray we realize that Jesus has power and authority over lots of things including the needed resources for missions. Pray we discern the authentic path of Jesus and follow. Pray that our prayers prompt us to develop a burden for the vulnerable communities in which we live, for or our nation and the nations of the world. Pray we realize that God’s resources flow out of a life of dependent trust and relationship with God. Pray for more laborers with a heart for missions.
Blessings,
John Lawson
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