Friday tends to be one of those days when we are tempted to make it all about us. We have been busy all week long – giving ourselves to someone or something else and it would appear that now it is almost time to make it about ourselves. Before we make the leap, I want to share some thoughts that the Holy Spirit has been laying on my heart. And let me be the first to say: “I’ve got some work to do!”
Jesus said: “If any man would come after (follow) me, then he must deny (surrender) himself, take up his cross (sacrifice) and follow me!” This is what it means to be a Christian! Being a Christian is about so much more than getting out of Hell and into Heaven! It is so much more than going to church and going through the motions. Being a Christian is about living in a relationship of following, surrender and sacrifice!
I often hear “church attenders” make so many excuses about what they can and can’t do, about what they are and are not going to do. And what it really boils down to, is this one question: Are you going to be a Christian or not? If you are going to be a Christian, then you are going to follow Jesus because you have a “want to” to follow Jesus. If you are going to be a Christian, then you will surrender your will to His will, because you truly believe that His will is better! If you are going to be a Christian, then you will sacrifice everyday, multiple times throughout the day, because you know and appreciate the sacrifice that Jesus made for you!
Let’s stop making excuses! Let’s start making a difference! Let’s really be what we say we are! I am a Christian! I choose to follow Christ! I am excited about surrendering my will to His will! I count it all joy to be able to sacrifice for His glory and other’s blessing! I am following Jesus and I know that I am on a journey of “right direction!” Let’s do it together! The journey is so much more enjoyable when we do it together and I do it better when I have someone that I can help and someone that will help me back! I just can’t wait to see where God is going to take us together!
Discipleship is one of those words that we toss around our churches like a familiar football! We know that the word discipleship has something to do with being close to God, and we convince ourselves that this is enough. We need to start thinking about discipleship and what it really means. I think that true discipleship is one of the lost gifts that God has given to the church! I am trying to get my head and heart around it, and must admit that I have a ways to go. I thought that it might be helpful for me to share with you some of the things that God has been teaching and showing me!
Michael Joe Harvell 