Follow HIM! Follow HIM in more than thought, follow HIM in ANY way feasible! Follow HIM to the ends of the Earth, and leave ALL else behind! This is the clincher; leave all behind, as THIS IS what puts people off, frightens them, and leaves them shaking in their FAITH! HOW can we leave all else behind? HOW???
It is MIND OVER matter! It is done by being WILLING to leave all else behind, BECAUSE SO much of this world HAS a SURE hold on us! Are we WILLING to part with our comfort zones? Are we WILLING to place HIM, ALONE as the horizon of our time? Are we WILLING to undergo changes TO HONOUR HIM, HIS WILL, HIS WAYS? Are we WILLING TO DO AS HE REQUESTS???
It IS SO difficult, yet, SO imperative to follow HIM! It is difficult because we are creatures of habit, and seek comfortableness, which, involves an undisturbed way of life, though which more times than not, is premised upon the world, not HIM!!!
Some feel it was easier for HIS Disciples back then to follow HIM, because HE was THERE, and they didn't have much to give up, compared to what we have today! Hmmmn; there is troubled water in this reasoning! We CAN'T measure their wealth, or lack of on ours, it, simply, is not going to be a fair measure! AND, they walked away from businesses, and Family, without hesitation, save for a couple of instances, in which case, HE spoke up!!!
Most of us are like, "I will follow YOU LORD, but, let me grab some stuff for the journey!" NOPE, ain't gonna fly with HIM! HE expects us to do a 360 FOR HIM, FOR HIS GLORY! Even some of the Clergy have a difficult time with this, as they procrastinate, or refuse to be relocated to where they might be needed most, and so forth! But, there ARE those in EVERY walk of life, EVERY corner of the Earth, who DO abide, and follow HIM, TRUSTING HIM, and RELYING ON HIM, to lead them on void of that which they gave UP FOR HIM, and HIS GLORY! Still, many of us wonder HOW they do it!!!
One crucial message in this is, we have to LEARN that this isn't about us, IT IS ABOUT *GOD*, and that we ARE PROMISED more than we will EVER see, all combined on Earth, for our allegiance, fidelity, and sacrifices of the flesh in HIS name, FOR HIS GLORY! What we have now, is NOT going to serve us, ever, especially come HIS DAY!!!
I feel fortunate, despite my misfortunes this far, because I KNOW HOW to leave all behind, as in my past, I had to do so, several times! It ISN'T easy, but, it is definitely WORTHY! We are anxious when we have to part with mostly anything, let alone all we are used to!
18/ As he was walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon who is called Peter, and his brother Andrew, casting a net into the sea; they were fishermen.
19/ He said to them, "Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men."
20/ At once they left their nets and followed him.
When Christ began to preach, he began to gather disciples, who should be hearers, and afterwards preachers of his doctrine, who should be witnesses of his miracles, and afterwards testify concerning them. He went not to Herod's court, not to Jerusalem, among the chief priests and the elders, but to the sea of Galilee, among the fishermen. The same power which called Peter and Andrew, could have wrought upon Annas and Caiaphas, for with God nothing is impossible. But Christ chooses the foolish things of the world to confound the wise.
Diligence in an honest calling is pleasing to Christ, and it is no hindrance to a holy life. Idle people are more open to the temptations of Satan than to the calls of God. It is a happy and hopeful thing to see children careful of their parents, and dutiful. When Christ comes, it is good to be found doing. Am I in Christ? is a very needful question to ask ourselves; and, next to that, Am I in my calling? They had followed Christ before, as common disciples, JOHN 1:37; now they must leave their calling. Those who would follow Christ aright, must, at his command, leave all things to follow him, must be ready to part with them. This instance of the power of the Lord Jesus encourages us to depend upon his grace. He speaks, and it is done.
The strongest and most prevailing argument with an awakened soul to follow Christ, is, that it is he only who takes away sin. Whatever communion there is between our souls and Christ, it is he who begins the discourse. He asked, What seek ye? The question Jesus put to them, we should all put to ourselves when we begin to follow Him, What do we design and desire? In following Christ, do we seek the favour of God and eternal life? He invites them to come without delay. Now is the accepted time, 2 CORINTHIANS 6:2. It is good for us to be where Christ is, wherever it be. We ought to labour for the spiritual welfare of those related to us, and seek to bring them to Him. Those who come to Christ, must come with a fixed resolution to be firm and constant to him, like a stone, solid and steadfast; and it is by his grace that they are so.
The gospel is a word of grace sounding in our ears. The gospel day is a day of salvation, the means of grace the means of salvation, the offers of the gospel the offers of salvation, and the present time the proper time to accept these offers. The morrow is none of ours: we know not what will be on the morrow, nor where we shall be. We now enjoy a day of grace; then let all be careful not to neglect it.
Ministers of the gospel should look upon themselves as God's servants, and act in every thing suitably to that character. The apostle did so, by much patience in afflictions, by acting from good principles, and by due temper and behaviour. Believers, in this world, need the grace of God, to arm them against temptations, so as to bear the good report of men without pride; and so as to bear their reproaches with patience. They have nothing in themselves, but possess all things in Christ.
Of such differences is a Christian's life made up, and through such a variety of conditions and reports, is our way to heaven; and we should be careful in all things to approve ourselves to God. The gospel, when faithfully preached, and fully received, betters the condition even of the poorest. They save what before they riotously spent, and diligently employ their time to useful purposes. They save and gain by religion, and thus are made rich, both for the world to come and for this, when compared with their sinful, profligate state, before they received the gospel.
What people should realize is that it is difficult for ANYONE, VOWS or not, to follow THE LORD, CHRIST JESUS as HE would have it, BUT, the choices we make, have eternal significance!!!
We need to THINK about our relationship WITH THE LORD *GOD* in a MATURE, and HONEST way; in the first place, a relationship entails commitment! It is NOT easy for us to walk the straight, and narrow path AFTER being raised in the world, but, IF our hearts are IN HIM, the difficulty WILL BE WORTHY, and HE WILL help us through! It IS ALL ABOUT LOVE!!!
Just food for thought, with LOVE!!!
REV. LWINSOR © 2013
BIBLICAL, and/or, other references marked BOLDLY IN COLOURS
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