Followers

Followers

Revelation 19: ¹⁰ I fell down at his feet to worship him, but he said to me, “Don't do it! I am a servant together with you and with other believers, all those who hold to the truth that Jesus revealed. Worship God!”

 

For the truth that Jesus revealed is what inspires the prophets.

 

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As the other speakers finished, I noticed the audience gave the obligatory applause. I was next. I gave my presentation and got strong applause, due to the interest in the subject.

 

• I felt good getting the applause.
• I wanted to get that same applause again and again.
• I wanted more and more people to know “my” name, so “I” could get a promotion.

 

John, the disciple JESUS loved, was filled with awe. He saw such great wonders, so he decided to do something. He fell down to worship the angel but was abruptly stopped. “Don’t do it!” was the exclamation from the angel.

 

My Observations:

• The angel saw Satan get kicked out of heaven for trying to be worshipped.
• GOD is a jealous GOD and deserves to be worshipped alone.
• Any following that I create should be pointed to JESUS.

 

Developing a kingdom on earth can be dangerous. I mean, when people follow me, they are following a flawed person. But when they follow JESUS, they follow perfection. Following flawed humans can possibly cause deeper flaws in my character because I could be subject to manipulation.

 

JESUS is the one all of us need to follow. John the Baptist, different than the disciple, pointed people to JESUS. He did not think it was important to hold onto followers when JESUS was the Way, the Truth and the Life. I gladly point people away from following me and onto the path of JESUS.

 

Challenge

• Why did the writer try to worship the angel?
• Have you ever become enamored over a certain human you thought had more capabilities than you?
• Have you considered following JESUS with your life so you can see what perfection looks like and share it with others today?

All Makes Perfect

All Makes Perfect

Hebrews 11: ³⁹ What a record all of these have won by their faith! Yet they did not receive what God had promised, ⁴⁰ because God had decided on an even better plan for us. His purpose was that only in company with us would they be made perfect.

 

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“I finished” I said proudly as I watched other people struggling. The task was easy to “me” and I felt good about “myself.” “Why don’t you help other people finish?” was the suggestion said to me that was strange.

 

• I wanted to be noticed for finishing first.
• I was competing instead of relating.
• I had no sympathy for those who were “losing” even though it was not a competition.

 

Paul, the assumed writer, got excited over the mention of this great list of people who expressed faith in many marvelous ways. He then says that what they did was only a small piece of the entire picture.

 

My Observations:

• GOD seems to need a story from my life to be part of HIS great and marvelous plan.
• GOD links my story to other people so we all can live together in a better place.
• GOD’s better plan includes all of our stories, not just the ones we read about.

 

Wanting to be noticed as special makes me compete. I mean, I may work extra hard, or wear something unique, or tell people where I have been so I can be affirmed by society. Then, when I see what someone else has done, I race to do more or to be different. BUT GOD made me unique, so I don’t have to try.

 

When GOD looks at me, HE sees a part of a bigger picture. HE wants all humans to be saved and feels one person is just as precious as another. The person I get mad at, is loved dearly by GOD. HE wants all of us to be saved. I am glad HIS plan includes me and you.

 

Challenge

• What is the “better plan” that the writer mentions?
• Have you ever competed with someone for affiliation, affection, or affirmation?
• Will you seek to be a link in GOD’s plan and join others in bringing people to HIM so HE can have the complete picture HE is looking for today?

By Now

 

By Now

Hebrews 5: ¹¹ There is much we have to say about this matter, but it is hard to explain to you, because you are so slow to understand. ¹² There has been enough time for you to be teachers—yet you still need someone to teach you the first lessons of God's message. Instead of eating solid food, you still have to drink milk. ¹³ Anyone who has to drink milk is still a child, without any experience in the matter of right and wrong. ¹⁴ Solid food, on the other hand, is for adults, who through practice are able to distinguish between good and evil.

 

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Sitting back and listening to the leader, I had many suggestions for improvement. One day, someone approached me and said, “When are you going to lead?”” The challenge felt like an insult at first, but eventually I wrapped my head around the concept and became a leader of a small group of people. It was harder than I thought.

 

• I had to learn while I was expected to be the teacher.
• I had to grow in ways I never would have imagined.
• I had to get out of my comfort zone and step into the spotlight, receiving the criticism instead of dishing it out.

 

“When will you grow up?” were the implied words from Paul, the assumed writer. He urged those who have been taught about JESUS to grow in spiritual maturity enough to teach instead of always being taught.

 

My Observations

• Solid food is for adults and GOD wants me to grow to eat it.
• Life is difficult so GOD wants me to be able to face it with HIS ways, which equates to “solid food.”
• Going to church can become a habit, BUT GOD wants me to grow up enough to take on responsibility outside being preached to.

 

“Act your age” is what the old folks used to say, meaning “by now you should be growing away from childish behavior.” It doesn’t feel good to be responsible for something, especially as precious as life after death. BUT GOD has given humans the responsibility to spread the Gospel versus always absorbing it.

 

GOD wants you and me to eventually grow up enough to teach, preach and live the Good news about JESUS. HE wants to give “solid food” to be able to bring people back to HIMSELF. I gladly accept the responsibility HE gives me and pray HE guides me to growth.

 

Challenge

• What are the “first lessons” the writer is speaking about?
• Have you ever imagined yourself in a perpetual kindergarten?
• Do you expect to always learn without ever teaching?
• Will you accept GOD’s growth and begin teaching HIS “solid food” today?

Global Perspective

Global Perspective

2 Timothy 4: ⁹ Do your best to come to me soon. ¹⁰ Demas fell in love with this present world and has deserted me, going off to Thessalonica. Crescens went to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia. ¹¹ Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, because he can help me in the work. ¹² I sent Tychicus to Ephesus. ¹³ When you come, bring my coat that I left in Troas with Carpus; bring the books too, and especially the ones made of parchment.

 

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“Why would anyone leave this country?” I said out loud. I then defended my position by saying “We got mountains, forests, beaches, deserts and snow for vacation. We have homeless and unsaved people here. Why go anyplace else?” Then a pastor asked me to go with a group to another country. There I saw different needs that were cultural.

 

• I had no idea other people had needs.”
• I saw the world from “my” perspective.
• I never thought I would travel around the world telling people about CHRIST.

 

Saul had a local mission to kill people who followed JESUS. BUT GOD blinded him, healed him and gave him a new mission to preach about JESUS to the Gentiles. He went all over spreading the Gospel of JESUS versus persecuting the church. He was given a global perspective.

 

My Observation

• GOD wants all people to be saved.
• GOD wants me to participate in telling people about HIS SON locally, semi-locally and abroad.
• GOD sees other people who look different than me as HIS children.

 

Having a global perspective is hard to do without exposure. I mean, when I lived comfortably in my neighborhood, people looked and acted like me. I had no idea what other cultures were going through as barriers to believing in JESUS. BUT GOD wanted me to see more.

 

HE orchestrated interactions that were combative at first and then said, “Look at people the way I see them.” HIS love was without prejudice or hatred. HE loves everyone so much that JESUS died for all sins. I gladly open my eyes to GOD’s perspective of wanting everyone saved.

 

Challenge

• Do you see the global perspective of the writer?
• What are the needs you can fulfill in other cultures?
• Will you use your gifts and talents in a local, semi-local and global way for the LORD today?

Stay Awhile

Stay Awhile

Acts 14: At Iconium Paul and Barnabas went as usual into the Jewish synagogue. There they spoke so effectively that a great number of Jews and Greeks believed. ² But the Jews who refused to believe stirred up the other Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers. ³ So Paul and Barnabas spent considerable time there, speaking boldly for the Lord, who confirmed the message of his grace by enabling them to perform signs and wonders. ⁴ The people of the city were divided; some sided with the Jews, others with the apostles. ⁵ There was a plot afoot among both Gentiles and Jews, together with their leaders, to mistreat them and stone them. ⁶ But they found out about it and fled to the Lycaonian cities of Lystra and Derbe and to the surrounding country, ⁷ where they continued to preach the gospel.

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After mailing in a dollar’s worth of coins and box tops from cereal, I was on my way to elation. Weeks later a box came to the house with my name on it. The “free” kite had arrived. I had never flown a kite and didn’t know how. I put it together and went outside.

I ran with the kite behind me, but it would not fly. “Here, let me show you” a neighbor said. He stayed with me until I understood how to fly a kite on my own.

• Many people have stayed with me until I learned.
• Many people have been patient with me until I understood.
• Many people have had the courage to help me when I struggled with something.

Paul and Barnabas spoke to everyone they could in another town. Many believed, but there were those who poisoned the minds others, causing confusion. Paul and Barnabas stayed a considerable time, teaching and preaching. GOD saw this and enabled them to perform many signs and wonders.

• GOD wants me to stay with people until they understand HIM.
• GOD wants me to stay with people until they can seek HIM on their own.
• GOD wants me to stay with people until they see HIS message of grace.

Staying with people takes time and effort. Unfortunately, the pressures of life pull me away from staying with those who really need the time. BUT GOD wants me to make time. HE wants me to slow down for a moment and explain HIS love.

Since I am no expert on GOD, HE wants me to simply share what HE has done for me. I am glad HE has forgiven me for all my sins, even the one’s that are done over and over.

• Are you spending time growing people for GOD?
• Do you see someone struggling who needs to hear HIS grace?
• Will you slow down and speak to that person about GOD’s amazing love today?

Not my parent’s belief

Not my parent’s belief

Acts 4: ⁵ And it came to pass, on the next day, that their rulers, elders, and scribes, ⁶ as well as Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the family of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem. ⁷ And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, “By what power or by what name have you done this?”

⁸ Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders of Israel: ⁹ If we this day are judged for a good deed done to a helpless man, by what means he has been made well, ¹⁰ let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole. ¹¹ This is the ‘stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.’ ¹² Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

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After failing a test, I wondered, “What is wrong with me?” I mean I can comprehend. I even got on the dean’s list once. Then it hit me… “My parents are to blame!” They raised me with GODLY values and I blamed them for being hypocrites. So I stopped going to church and increased my social life.

• There was a time when I used blame as my protector.
• There was a time when I got mad easily because of other people.
• There was a time when I had no accountability for my actions because other people were at fault.

Peter, who denied his relationship with JESUS only a month or so prior, spoke boldly about HIM because HE was filled with the HOLY SPIRIT. No longer was HE in the shadow of JESUS but the center of attention, pointing to salvation through JESUS.

• GOD wants me to have my own relationship with HIM.
• GOD wants me to seek maturity in HIM whether my parents, family or friends agree or not.
• GOD wants me to be bold with HIS message of salvation and take accountability for “my” words and actions.

Growing up can be hard. Growing up in CHRIST can be even harder. I mean it seems like when I start following JESUS, more problems arise. BUT GOD clears those problems up and grows my faith in HIM.

After graduating and living on my own for a while I felt something missing. I tried filling it with lust and nightlife, but it was empty. I then sought after learning about GOD, this time for myself. I saw how HE sustained other people.

When a problem arose, I took a deep breath and relied on GOD this time. I was amazed at how fast the problem went away. I was being prepared for bigger, longer problems. I am grateful GOD matures me day by day.

• Are you looking at someone else’s faith and using it as an excuse for not believing in JESUS?
• Do you see hypocrisy in others so you feel justified in running away from GOD?
• Will you seek the “Chief cornerstone” from whom salvation is given, namely JESUS today?

Simple Math

Simple Math

John 7: ⁴⁰ Therefore many from the crowd, when they heard this saying, said, “Truly this is the Prophet.” ⁴¹ Others said, “This is the Christ.”

But some said, “Will the Christ come out of Galilee? ⁴² Has not the Scripture said that the Christ comes from the seed of David and from the town of Bethlehem, where David was?” ⁴³ So there was a division among the people because of Him. ⁴⁴ Now some of them wanted to take Him, but no one laid hands on Him.

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“Multiplication is addition only quicker and division is subtraction that is just as quick” my math teacher said. I learned the principle and went home. Weekends later I went camping. In a playful way, one of the campers pulled a knife on another.

As the knifeless person pushed the blade away, his hand was cut deeply. Suddenly we were divided at the camp the entire weekend. It happened quickly.

• I have noticed division happens quickly.
• I have been involved with dividing people against “those” people.
• I have warned others to stay away from “those” people.

The crowd tried to figure out who JESUS was. Some said HE is the CHRIST, while others said HE is the Prophet. But there was a group who refused to believe and they traced HIS roots back to where HE lived in Galilee. Arguments grew and division rose.

• GOD wants me to follow HIM in unity with others.
• GOD wants me to figure out what is important and unify rather than divide.
• GOD wants me to have grace for others so the unity can speak louder than being right.

Division amongst those who try to follow GOD is a serious problem with HIM. The words “They are doing it wrong” seems to be easy to say yet difficult to rectify. I have been guilty for packing up “my way of doing things” and leaving a church group, searching for a group who acts and sometimes looks like me.

BUT GOD wants different. HE wants me treat all sin the same. HE wants me to look at my sin as ghastly as someone else’s. After my confession that I need GOD as my savior, HE wants me to treat others with care so they will point their lives to HIM. I am glad HE forgives me.

• Are you part of dividing GOD’s kingdom?
• Will you look at what is causing the division and allow GOD to handle the outcome?
• Will you do your part to show unity so others can be healed by GOD?

Filled Up

Luke 13: ²⁰ And again He said, “To what shall I liken the kingdom of God? ²¹ It is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal till it was all leavened.”

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In a hurry, I placed the gas container in the back seat of my car. Unfortunately the rubber gasket was missing which left the top loose and a little spilled out as I turned the corner sharply. Those few drops made the entire car smell.

• Sometimes a little can be a lot.
• Sometimes it only takes a little of something to take over everything.
• Sometimes just a tiny amount matters.

JESUS says a rather confusing analogy about the kingdom of GOD. HE compares it to leaven or yeast, that a woman baking bread, places in the mixture. Only three measures were used to permeate the entire batch. What does HIS analogy have to do with me and my problems?

• GOD says to me “The kingdom of heaven grows because of ME.”
• GOD says to me “Once MY presence enters you, I will fill you up.”
• GOD says to me “I AM the great I AM who is made of the FATHER, the SON and the HOLY SPIRIT, three in one.”

Such few words describe so much. GOD’s kingdom is growing exponentially in spite of any force trying to stop it. HIS kingdom cannot be yielded in any way. HIS presence inside of me saves me eternally. That cannot be changed. When I ask for more of HIS kingdom, HE give it to me generously.

• Are you seeking the world’s kingdom or GOD’s kingdom?
• What is permeating your thoughts and actions?
• Are you bearing fruit for GOD or does your mind get torn apart with the today’s problems?
• Can you allow a little of GOD to permeate your entire life by letting go of your worries today?

Growing

Luke 13: ¹⁸ Then He said, “What is the kingdom of God like? And to what shall I compare it? ¹⁹ It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and put in his garden; and it grew and became a large tree, and the birds of the air nested in its branches.”

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Furious, I stormed into the grocery store. I grabbed whatever I was purchasing and went to the counter. The cashier looked at my face and did not bother to say anything but the amount owed. Silently I paid and left.

• There are times when I show my anger to many people.
• There are times when I show my disappointment to many people.
• There are times when I show my hatred, fear, lust, prejudice and greed to many people.

JESUS describes the kingdom of GOD as a mustard seed planted in a garden. This seed grew and became a large tree for which many birds nested in its branches. How does a seed parable apply to me?

• GOD says to me “Each day you plant something whether you like it or not.”
• GOD says to me “You can sow seeds for MY kingdom or sow seeds for yours every day.”
• GOD says to me “You are MY seed and I plant you where I need you, for the time I need you, and I will grow you into a large tree.”

Each and every day I have a choice to make. I can make people miserable and adversarial or I can choose to be with people and show them GOD is in control in spite of my problems. Even my absence speaks volumes and plants a seed. Once I realize GOD has placed me somewhere for HIS purpose, it makes me think differently.

Wicked people aren’t as wicked and the argument I was about to jump into doesn’t seem worth winning when I choose GOD. Showing GOD’s love is important to HIM. When I choose to do so, especially when I don’t feel like it, HE grows me beyond my belief.

• What seeds are you growing?
• Are you making many people miserable around you?
• Can you choose to have GOD grow you to a point where you are growing other people for HIS purpose on a daily basis?