Thoughtful Thursday: What It Means To Follow Jesus

Photo Credits:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MVomXqU5n34

Job 23:8-12

“If I go to the east, he is not there, and to the west, yet I do not perceive him. In the north when he is at work, I do not see him; when he turns to the south, I see no trace of him. But he knows the pathway that I take; if he tested me, I would come forth like gold. My feet have followed his steps closely; I have kept to his way and have not turned aside. I have not departed from the commands of his lips; I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my allotted portion.”

1 Corinthians 11:1-2

“Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ. Now I commend you because you remember me in everything and maintain the traditions even as I delivered them to you.” 

John 10:27

“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.”

1 Peter 2:21 

“For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.”

Job says he does not see God, nor what He is doing – yet he has followed Him closely.  How is that?  How are we to follow Jesus when our experience of Him has been in faith?  Job understands – He followed God before Jesus came.  We follow God after Jesus came.  Both are in faith.  We were not there when He rose from the dead, nor when He walked among man, yet today we can hear His voice and follow Him.

His voice might not be audible to others around us, but to our souls it is clear.  God speaks to us directly to our spirit, through other people and through His word.  Sometimes it is when we least expect it and other times when we are seeking Him it seems hard to hear anything at all.  In either time, it is our will that is set to do God’s will that makes all of the difference.  When God seems silent, like Job, we can admit that we do not see His activity, but trust that He sees us completely.  Job obeyed God and he treasured His word, even when the chips were down.  That is what it means to follow God.

As a parent, I hope more than anything that my children will see that my love for God is genuine.  How will this be evident to them, that I am a follower of Jesus?  They see me seeking Him daily, but they also need to see the hands and feet of Jesus, lived out in me.  They need to see integrity and selflessness, they need to see character.  These attributes cannot be faked or put on – that would be religion – they become part of us the more time that we spend with Jesus.

When troubles come as they did for Job, people need to see in us that we are not a sunshine follower, but a follower and believer in God in all times of life.  Following Jesus includes following Him into dark valleys, trusting that He will use those places of suffering for our good.  He was acquainted with persecution and hardship, in fact He chose to walk that path.  We who follow Him must be willing to follow in all aspects of life.  When we are afraid to follow, we can ask him to give us courage and strength to do so.  Our following might not look perfect, but that is where a true follower acknowledges their faults and glorifies our perfect God in those moments.

Seeking to honor God with our lives and letting others see Him through us is our goal, but we are often wandering off the path and do not perceive it.  I am so grateful that God sees it all – His Holy Spirit reveals when we are off track and need reminders.  If we listen to that inner voice and choose to obey rather than just go our own way and rationalize, there is the sweetest peace and fellowship with God that beats by far following our own way.

Lord, help our lives to be hidden in You.  May our relationship with You inspires those who come behind us to know You, worship You and seek You fervently.  Your way is perfect – help us to follow You even when we do not understand.  

If the words of this blog have ministered to you, perhaps the songs I have written will, too.  Learn more at: http://www.pledgemusic.com/seeingdeep.  Thank you and God bless you!

Talk About It

Psalm 19:14 May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.

Proverbs 13:3 The one who guards his words guards his life, but whoever is talkative will come to ruin

Proverbs 21:23 Those who guard their mouths and their tongues keep themselves from calamity.

Psalm 34:13 Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from telling lies.

Psalm 141:3 Set a guard over my mouth, LORD; keep watch over the door of my lip

James 3:2 We all stumble in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their whole body in check.

Proverbs 15:23 A person finds joy in giving an apt reply– and how good is a timely word!

Proverbs 18:21 The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.

I awoke this morning with a strong sense – I need Him! Before I speak, before I move, I need Him to form my thoughts and words. Sometimes I forget what it was like to be unsaved and can get lulled into religiosity or the Christian culture. I can forget how important living every day, every moment, every breath in subjection to His will is. Even something as seemingly small as words.

We live in the information age and social media is booming. The written word has become increasingly more significant, but the word from our mouths in everyday life is still important.

The Bible has a lot to say about words. We are to be His mouthpiece . . . now that is humbling. I marvel at God’s patience with me and all mankind at how futile our thoughts, words and ways can be. Everything good that we have – wisdom, knowledge and possessions – He gave to us, but we can begin to think they are ours. This is further complicated by the evil that lingers and infiltrates our thoughts. If we do not recognize and reject haughty, selfish or envious thoughts as being evil, we become apathetic at guarding the gate over our mouth. We become blind to the significance of our words and can become a tool of the enemy, wielding words harmfully.

Words and thoughts fly out so fast it can be difficult to retrain them. But there is hope if I put no confidence in the flesh and cling to His words more than my own.
If I cry out to God and recognize my need for God to help me, therein lies victory. Not perfection, but something better – a life yielded to God in word and deed that will bear lasting fruit. How amazing to speak what God would have us to speak rather than words which penetrate the air for a moment with no lasting value?

Speak words that bring life today. Someone you encounter might really need to hear them.

Lord, as we go about this precious gift of life you have given, may we not utter idle words or words that could harm you or others around us. Help us to be aware of thoughts and words that displease you and to be gentle and kind, reflecting your glory in a world filled with so many words destroying hope.