Mark 2: 14 And as He passed by, He saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting in the tax office, and He said to him, "Follow Me!" And he rose and followed Him.
John 10: 27 My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.
1 John 2: 6 the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked.
Jesus is calling you to be His follower, to hear His voice and to walk as He walked.
In a court of law would there be enough evidence to find you a follower of Jesus? or Would the court instead find that you were a follower of an organization?
It is natural for us to want to belong to and be identified as part of a group. It is something I have to fight daily. I once was involved with a church that was a cult and that put more importance in keeping the law, the Holy Days of Israel and watching the foods we ate than we did in the life and sacrifice of Jesus. I would have been found to be a follower of that church instead of being a follower of Jesus.
I once heard a joke about a Baptist who arrived at the gates of Heaven and was met by St. Peter. The Baptist proud that he had arrived at the gates of Heaven asked St. Peter, "How many Methodist are in Heaven?" St. Peter replied, "Oh there are no Methodist in Heaven." Then the Baptist asked, "How many Lutherans made it to Heaven?" St. Peter looked him in the eye and said, "There are no Lutherans in Heaven." The Baptist feeling safe then asked, "So Heaven is full of Baptist?" St. Peter looked at him and smiled, "My friend there are no Baptist in Heaven, only followers of Jesus are in Heaven."
Are you known as a Methodist, a Baptist, a Catholic, a Lutheran, or some other Christian organization more than you are known as a follower of Jesus? Are the traditions of your church more important than the things Jesus instructed us to do? Does your heart go out to those of your church more than it does to those outside of the church?
Jesus Is Our Pattern
Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior, but He is also our pattern. The Bible teaches that we are to imitate Him.
PHILIPPIANS 2:5 Think as Christ Jesus thought.
PHILIPPIANS 2:5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,
Imitate Jesus
1 CORINTHIANS 11:1 Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.
As a follower of Jesus I believe you will find the following:
1. You will think like Jesus.
2. You will begin to identify with the ministry of Jesus.
3. You will find it easier to share the Gospel with others.
4. You will not feel pressured to convert those you share the Gospel with.
John 10: 27 My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.
1 John 2: 6 the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked.
Jesus is calling you to be His follower, to hear His voice and to walk as He walked.
In a court of law would there be enough evidence to find you a follower of Jesus? or Would the court instead find that you were a follower of an organization?
It is natural for us to want to belong to and be identified as part of a group. It is something I have to fight daily. I once was involved with a church that was a cult and that put more importance in keeping the law, the Holy Days of Israel and watching the foods we ate than we did in the life and sacrifice of Jesus. I would have been found to be a follower of that church instead of being a follower of Jesus.
I once heard a joke about a Baptist who arrived at the gates of Heaven and was met by St. Peter. The Baptist proud that he had arrived at the gates of Heaven asked St. Peter, "How many Methodist are in Heaven?" St. Peter replied, "Oh there are no Methodist in Heaven." Then the Baptist asked, "How many Lutherans made it to Heaven?" St. Peter looked him in the eye and said, "There are no Lutherans in Heaven." The Baptist feeling safe then asked, "So Heaven is full of Baptist?" St. Peter looked at him and smiled, "My friend there are no Baptist in Heaven, only followers of Jesus are in Heaven."
Are you known as a Methodist, a Baptist, a Catholic, a Lutheran, or some other Christian organization more than you are known as a follower of Jesus? Are the traditions of your church more important than the things Jesus instructed us to do? Does your heart go out to those of your church more than it does to those outside of the church?
Jesus Is Our Pattern
Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior, but He is also our pattern. The Bible teaches that we are to imitate Him.
PHILIPPIANS 2:5 Think as Christ Jesus thought.
PHILIPPIANS 2:5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,
Imitate Jesus
1 CORINTHIANS 11:1 Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.
I want to encourage you to take the time and look at the Gospels to discover Jesus' actions, what His heart was moved by and what His ministry was. You are called to take those same actions. You are called to have the same heart. You are called to ministry. You are called to think and be like Jesus. You are not called to be religious or to be anything but a follower of Jesus.
As a follower of Jesus I believe you will find the following:
1. You will think like Jesus.
2. You will begin to identify with the ministry of Jesus.
3. You will find it easier to share the Gospel with others.
4. You will not feel pressured to convert those you share the Gospel with.
People are more interested in Jesus than your membership with an organization.
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