True Obedience: Not a Grey Issue
There are multitudes today who fill the ranks of modern churches under the banner of Christianity...who do not "follow Jesus" in spirit and in truth. These are not disciples of Jesus, but rather a people who adhere to a "cultural and social brand of Christianity", but have no experience in truly following the Master, the King of kings and the Lord of lords by and through their lifestyle. They may gather together regularly for a kind of Christian "spectator-ship" or "fellowship" with one another, but there is no active evidence of their discipleship...following the Master in spirit and in truth.
Many of these adhere to a "religion".....a "Christian" religion, but they do not have an intimate or close relationship with the Son of God, Jesus Christ! Many of them do not pray daily nor "hear His Voice" calling to them on a daily basis. He is speaking to them...but they have not been in a position to "hear" what He is saying by His Spirit. Many are spiritually asleep, not alert, and certainly not walking in obedience to His final and great commission to us, His People, to "Go and make disciples of all nations....teaching them by the way they live their lives to become disciples of Jesus Christ!"
The original twelve had a "close, personal relationship" with the Son of Man, Jesus of Nazareth; and when pressed by Him with the question, "Who do YOU say that I am?" they, along with Peter, one of the twelve, said from their hearts, "You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God!" They knew Who this One was they had been called to follow! They knew the seriousness of calling and commitment to this One...and they followed Him while He was upon the earth...up until the time of His death.
Many denied Him and scattered in that dark hour; but after the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, the Anointed One with the Authority to Save...they, too, followed Him in spirit and in truth, receiving His Holy Spirit, which He sent to be here on earth with His followers in His stead; and they continued to tell the story of Jesus to their culture and generation and passing the Truth of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ to others who would take the message down through the ages...even to us today.
This LORD OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, this Elect One, this Servant, this One upon whom rests the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord, this One who does not judge by the "seeing of His eyes nor by the hearing of His ears", and the One upon Whom rests the Spirit of the Lord STILL CALLS US TODAY saying..."Follow Me!"
"Jesus Christ is THE SAME...yesterday, today, and forever!" Hebrews 13:8
Oh, Christian, can you say in your heart that you truly are daily "following Him?"
~ Are you allowing Him to conform you to His same image of character of holiness and nature of love?
~ Are you humbling yourself before Him, daily, seeking His face, praying, and turning from your wicked ways?
~ Are you studying His Word to show yourself approved unto Him, a workman who needs not to be ashamed...rightly dividing the Word of Truth?
~ Are you a only a "spectator" (one who sits and watches others but takes no personal part in the practice or spread of Christianity) in your church services,
~ Are you a "fellowshipper" (one who only delights only in fellowshipping with other cultural Christians but not living out His life daily or spreading the gospel to family and friends),
~ Or are you truly a disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ who loves Him with all your heart, and mind and soul and strength...who desires obedience to Him in all you do day by day...who looks to Jesus for your direction in life and not to those around you even in the modern church world...one who is actively involved in the practice and propagation of the spirit and truth of Jesus Christ and the Kingdom of God.?
~ Are you serious about this pivotal relationship in your life?
~ Is Jesus Christ the FIRST LOVE of your life? Do you love anything or anyone MORE than you love Jesus Christ? Is there anything or anyone more important to you that Jesus Christ? Is He your top priority in everything you do or say?
~ Are you pursuing holiness and love and humility and service for Him with all your heart? Is your personal life marked by these things?
If it is not...then humble yourself before Him in prayer, cry out in repentance for the sin of disobedience, for not following Him in spirit and in truth in answer to His call.
If you are...then you can honestly claim that you are a disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ!
Looking unto Jesus,
Sandy
