Follow Me

As He was setting out on a journey, a man ran up to Him and knelt before Him, and asked Him, “Good Teacher, what shall I do so that I may inherit eternal life?”….   Looking at him, Jesus showed love to him and said to him, “One thing you lack: go and sell all you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” (Mark 10:17&21)

There have been many messages written and preached about this passage. Most have dealt with the first part—priorities. The rich young ruler’s attachment to material possessions prevented him from fully embracing Jesus’ teachings. Jesus highlighted the challenge of prioritizing God over worldly wealth in that one must be willing to let go of anything that hinders his relationship with God.

But there is a very important second part to this passage…”and come, follow Me.” As we look at Jesus’s life on earth as an example, this may be even more difficult than the first part.

Following Jesus isn’t just about our performance. It is about a relationship with Him and a change in lifestyle. It means daily surrendering our own priorities, and desires, and viewpoints to put God first and follow His will.

It is loving unconditionally and intentionally showing love, compassion, kindness, and forgiveness to even those who we find hard to tolerate, let alone love.

When we follow Jesus, it takes a closer look at what He did when He walked on the earth. He talked constantly with the Father, not just during the special time set aside as prayer time, but continuously.

Jesus knew God’s Word and quoted it as a weapon against the evil one.

Following Jesus is not just a checklist of imitating His behaviors, but offering our body, mind, and spirit in imitation of His character and transforming our life.

Self Control

A person without self-control is like a city with broken-down walls (Prov 25:28).

I love the book of Proverbs. Maybe it’s for the same reason that I love word art with summarized wise sayings.  I guess I think that they can guide my entire life in 25 words or less. It is very true that God’s Word can guide our entire life, but He has made us a little more complex than a one sentence summary.

I almost read passed this one, but for some reason (hmmm), I paused and thought about it. In ancient times cities were surrounded by walls which served as a barrier to protect the people from outside threats, especially invaders. So, if we lack self-control, we too are vulnerable to outside threats like impulses, desires, and things that the media tells us that we need or should be like. Without self-control as our wall, we are compromised, subject to negative influences and their harmful consequences.

So how can we avoid setting ourselves up for trouble? I think the word self-control may be deceptive. “Self-control” relies on our limited human strength—the one that can’t even pass on a slice of cheesecake. This life is no doubt a spiritual battle requiring weapons that are beyond our own weak will. “Spirit-control” however, taps into divine assistance.

 The Holy Spirit empowers us to overcome weaknesses, resist temptations, and live in alignment with God’s will. The answer is always the same, yield it to God in prayer, study what His word already tells us, and listen for the voice of His Spirit.

Arguing

Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people (Phil 2:14-15).

If you have been reading these messages for the past few weeks, you are not reading a copy/paste, but just a few more thoughts on this scripture. We are cautioned, not only not to complain, but also not to argue or dispute. I have realized that whenever I complain that the person who is listening is usually someone who agrees, not argues. I don’t think scripture is referring to my fellow complaining buddy. One commentary suggested that complaining was external, but the arguing is internal—maybe a conflict. I think the dispute is a conflict within my own heart, arguing with God.

This takes my new year’s resolution of not complaining to a whole new spiritual realm. We have read accounts in scripture about people who argued with God. Most of the time the results were not pretty. Jonah’s initial response to going to Ninevah is a prime example.

My personal arguments with God can range from a minor disagreement to a major dig-in-my-heels rebellion, both equally sinful as I put my selfish desires on the throne replacing my perfect Creator, my loving Father.

The struggle against our innate selfishness is an ongoing battle. It is an internal spiritual tug-of-war and the weapons to fight are spiritual as well—

Truth. Being honest with ourselves. Really, really difficult.

Righteousness. As outlined and defined again and again in scripture.

Peace. Faith. The Word of God.

and pray.

Changing Your Mind

Do not conform to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will (Romans12:2).

There is an old term that has become a current buzzword—mindset. It can be described as a mental attitude that influences how we think, feel, talk, and act. It can be further explained as being positive or negative, fixed or growth-oriented. Although some people think that it is what it is, but Scripture tells us that it can be renewed.

In this verse we are cautioned not to copy the behaviors that are accepted in the world. This is especially crucial in today’s world where the opposite of biblical values is not only accepted, but often embraced.

Our natural minds are selfish, self-centered, self-seeking, self-willed, self-focused, self, self, self.  And if left undisciplined, self-destructive. Our natural mind has been compared to the terrible twos.

But what can we do if this is our natural inclination?

It is only through replacing our spirit with God’s Holy Spirit. He is ultimately the healer of our mind, but we can take responsibility by making positive changes in our lives.

Replace “I can’t” with “With God’s help, I can.” Repeat positive affirming scriptures verses—the real power words.

Meditate on God’s Word for a better understanding of who He is and what His plans are for you.

Associate with people who are spiritually growth-oriented.

Express gratitude. Instead of focusing on the negative, look for things to be grateful for.

Pray.

Pray first, last, and in the middle. There are definitely things we can do as our part or responsibility in the healing process, but just as a doctor does just so much for the healing of our body, God is the ultimate healer of our body, mind and spirit.

The Word of God

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness (2 Tim 3:16).

Many times, people consider the stories in Scripture nothing more than fairy tales. Often these skeptics have never studied scripture and may have not even read it.

There definitely are stories in the Bible. Jesus often used stories or parables to illustrate His lessons. But the “stories” in Geneses and the OT, even though some may seem far-fetched, have been proven true through historical studies, cultural studies, and even science. In fact, true science aligns with scripture, can be validated through scripture, and science, through time, proves Scripture.  

Case in point—Jonah. According to a booklet published by Grace W. Kellogg, there are records of men swallowed by large marine creatures who have lived—authenticated records of living things inside fish being rescued alive. Kellogg reports that sulfur bottom whales have “4 to 6 compartments in their stomachs, in any one of which a colony of men could find free lodging. They might even have a choice of rooms, for in the head of this whale is a wonderful air storage chamber, an enlargement of the nasal sinus, often measuring 7 ft wide, by 14 ft long. If he has an unwelcome guest on board who gives him a headache, the whale swims to the nearest land and gets rid of the offender as he did Jonah.”

So why does this even matter? The point is not to let these accounts become a stumbling block or an excuse not to trust the whole Word of God as Truth. It is not a buffet bar where we can choose the verses that we choose to believe and disregard others.

Every.word.is.important.

According to the New Living Translation– All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.