Come Follow Me

Now the Lord had said to Abram: "Get out of your country, from your family, and from your father's house, to a land that I will show you." (Genesis 12:1-6)

"If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple." (Luke 14:26-27)

 

Every man God calls to Himself will face the challenge of leaving what he has for what God has for him. For the Lord to draw us to Himself, He must draw us away from the familiar, and we must lay down the life we know and love to receive the life He promises.

 

Abram is a picture of true worship and devotion, which moves beyond words and good intentions and manifests in obedience, especially when it is difficult.

 

God was not asking Abram to leave an unpleasant situation for a good one — any fool knows to do that! He's asking him to trust and believe Him, to leave all and follow Him, to prefer and prioritize Him, to go to a place without knowing what or where that place is, and to walk by faith and not by sight. 

 

"Sell all you have . . . and come follow me." (Luke 18:22)

 

A crowded life is one God cannot and will not use. We cannot bring our schedules and possessions; those things will not fit through the narrow door entered by the few.

 

You will notice that everyone who profoundly affects your life for Christ is one who is “sold out.” That is the one God sends, because he or she will be faithful with the strength He pours into them. The Lord is looking for the one He can trust with souls, and that one is willing to forsake all to receive all the Lord would give.

 

Jesus will not share His disciple with anyone or anything else. Are you His disciple? His and His alone?

 

Let’s Pray – Lord, I will respond when You call, and I will do so without doubting. I have learned that You are trustworthy, and You always lead me in the righteous path. Here I am, Lord, at Your service. Amen.

The Chosen Few

"So the last will be first, and the first last. For many are called, but few chosen." (Matthew 20:16)

 

In other words, few will prove themselves worthy of the call by laying down their lives, picking up their cross, and following Jesus. Answering the call of the Lord is not merely agreeing to do things for God, but we must obliterate our allegiance to any other relationship, any other cause, any other creed, and any other obligation. Our commitment to Jesus must become and remain unrivaled, and few of us ever reach that place of surrender.

It is God's sovereign right to choose who He will. At times, His choices seem strange to us, certainly not what we would have expected or chosen. For instance, who would have chosen Saul of Tarsus to be the quintessential apostle to the young church of Jesus Christ? Didn't he brutally persecute the church? Who would have chosen Gideon over the more qualified soldiers and leaders of his day? Why was Abram chosen out of all the men on earth? Didn't David have seven older brothers when he was anointed by Samuel? Why did Jesus choose uneducated and uncultured men to be His disciples, not to mention Judas, His betrayer? Yes, the Lord chooses some very unlikely and unworthy vessels. We must learn to see ourselves the same way, because God chose us, too. 

You did not choose Me, but I chose you . . . (John 15:16)

Let's Pray - Lord, please count me among the faithful; one who not only speaks what is right but does what is right. I know I am not worthy, but I want to be counted among the few. Amen.

Beware of Ambition

Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Him, saying, "Teacher, we want You to do for us whatever we ask." And He said to them, "What do you want Me to do for you?" They said to Him, "Grant us that we may sit, one on Your right hand and the other on Your left, in Your glory." (Mark 10:35-37)

 

Wanting to be first or great was not the disciples' only problem. Having Jesus right before them and not recognizing who or what they were looking at was the real issue. God Himself was living among them, not only as Lord, but as the Son and Servant of Man — bearing their burdens, healing their diseases, feeding, caring, teaching, sacrificing, and blessing. Yet, they could only see the rewards of power and the awe it inspired. They were meant to be co-servants with Jesus, but they were blind-sided by pride and ambition.

 

Nothing much has changed. 

 

But Jesus said to them, "You do not know what you ask." (Mark 10:38)

 

We must beware of ambition because it is never spiritual. David's ambition caused him to number God's people. Moses' ambition caused him to slay the Egyptian. Aaron and Miriam's ambition caused them to challenge Moses' authority. There are many more examples in the scriptures, and there are many in the church today.

 

Our Lord humbled Himself, laid down His life, served us, and suffered the most shameful and painful death imaginable out of obedience to the Father. We, too, must reject the temptation to seek our own, and sit in the lowest place, not the highest. That is what our Lord did, and now He sits next to the Father on high. Let Him be your Example and follow Him today.

 

Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up. (James 4:10)

Let's Pray - Precious Lord, teach us that humility is the highest attribute, and to lay our lives down as we should. Save us from the craven sin of selfish ambition. In Jesus alone, Amen.

Best Laid Plans

Now Sarai, Abram's wife, had borne him no children. And she had an Egyptian maidservant whose name was Hagar. So Sarai said to Abram, “See now, the Lord has restrained me from bearing children. Please, go in to my maid; perhaps I shall obtain children by her.” And Abram heeded the voice of Sarai. (Genesis 16:1-2)

 

Far too often, we compromise the work of the Lord by pursuing our agendas, when He would have us humble ourselves, be patient, be still, and wait until He renews our strength. Even today, much that is promoted as Christian ministry is the result of restlessness, prayerlessness, and human energy which the Bible simply calls foolishness.

 

If the Lord is teaching His children anything at all in this day, it is, "Jesus alone is enough!" Our efforts to save, rescue, serve, and change the world are more of a hindrance to His plan than a help. Christ alone is the Word of God, and the only thing the Lord has to say to the world is, "This is my beloved Son. Hear Him!" 

 

Let us not produce "Ishmaels" through our ambition and the works of our flesh when the promises of God are fulfilled in Isaac. May the Lord teach us to be still and know that He is God!

 

Let’s Pray – Father, give us the wisdom and patience to wait on You, no matter how long that wait may be. There is no substitute for the divine, and may we not look for or employ any. Christ and Christ alone! Amen.

At His Feet

Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word. (Luke 10:38-39)

 

There are many things one might want to be known for, but Mary of Bethany will always be known for finding her place at Jesus' feet. She was the one who sat at His feet and heard His word, while others found themselves busy and distracted. She was the one who poured precious and expensive perfume on His head and feet, wiped His feet with her hair, filling the air with the fragrance of extravagant worship.

 

Mary fell at the Lord’s feet and rose up to see Him raising her brother Lazarus from the dead. No, she never took her eyes off Jesus or left her place at His feet. Mary will forever be remembered for being at the feet of Jesus. May the same be said of you and me. 

Let's Pray - Lord, thank You for showing us the value of worship in the Kingdom. Let us be a people noted for the praises we lift to our King. In Jesus, Amen.

Ready to Serve

So when He had washed their feet, taken His garments, and sat down again, He said to them, "Do you know what I have done to you? You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you." (John 13:12-15)

 

Servanthood is something entirely different in the Kingdom than it is in the world. Jesus understood what it meant to be a Son, so He was not ashamed or embarrassed to be a servant. In His mind, there was no contradiction.

 

We tend to see servants as less-than or inferior to those they serve; therefore, servants are often poorly treated and lightly esteemed. Not so in the Kingdom of God! A servant's heart treasured by the Lord, especially among His sons and daughters. That is why Jesus is the perfect example of royalty, sonship, and servanthood — and His example reflects the heart of His Father.

 

We can never fully know what it means to rule well until we learn to serve well. Our Heavenly Father is a most profound picture of selflessness and service, and it all flows out of His deep and abiding love for us. He serves us daily with provision, care, health, and protection; and He has provided us an eternal inheritance by the atonement carried out for us by the Son of His love. His grace and mercy are ours in an endless supply, and our help comes to us continually from His sanctuary. We are most like Him when we serve others as we have been served. May we be found doing for others as Christ has done for us. 

 

Let's Pray - Lord, You have adopted me and made me a son. Now give me a servant's heart, just like the heart of Jesus. I am ready to serve. Amen

Help Me Believe

And their words seemed to them like idle tales, and they did not believe them. But Peter arose and ran to the tomb; and stooping down, he saw the linen cloths lying by themselves; and he departed, marveling to himself at what had happened. (Luke 24:11-12)

Jesus never speaks idle words. The apostles did not believe, because they did not yet realize that every word He spoke to them was eternal truth, and nothing was spoken lightly or carelessly. If they had understood this, they would not have been surprised that He rose from the dead, because He told them He would. What was it that made the disciples unable to hear the truth spoken to them for three and a half years? Likewise, what is it that keeps me from taking the Lord at His word? Why am I so often stressed when the Lord has promised me peace? Why am I so easily ensnared by sin when the Savior has put sin to death on the cross? Why am I so slow to believe? Help me, Lord!

 

Believing God is simple, and that is where we so often fail. When we are simple enough to keep our eyes on Jesus, we are capable of walking on water; but the moment we look away, we begin to sink in doubt and fear.

 

The lilies of the field, birds of the air, and fish of the sea never fret or worry — yet, they have all their needs met. Oh, that we were that childlike and simple! Only the saint who is simple enough to trust God finds the perfect peace He promises. May the Lord help us and give us the Mind of Christ and a heart that simply believes Him. 

Let's Pray - Father, I believe - help my unbelief! May I receive every word of Jesus as spirit and life, and may that word be my daily bread. Amen.