Tag: Following Jesus

Morning Musings: John 14:26

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“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.”  (ESV – Read the chapter)

Living the life of Christ day-in-and day-out is a tall order.  It’s a huge task.  If we let it, the thought that we are to live each day following after the pattern of Christ and doing what He said can be an overwhelming thought.  If we think about it in the wrong way, it can leave us wondering whether it’s really all worth it.  How are we supposed to do this on our own? Read the rest…

Digging in Deeper: Genesis 19:26

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“But Lot’s wife, behind him, looked back, and she became a pillar of salt.”  (ESV – Read the chapter)

This has always seemed like such an odd punishment to me.  What would this have been like?  Was it instant?  Did she gradually start to transform from the feet up or the head down?  Is there any kind of a natural explanation for this or was it entirely miraculous?  Was Lot aware of it at first?  Or, did he go on for some distance before realizing he couldn’t hear her trying to keep up any longer?  If only they had smart phones back then!  We could have gotten the whole thing on video.  Imagine how many hits that would have received as a YouTube post… Read the rest…

Morning Musings: Mark 10:28

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“Peter began to say to him, ‘See, we have left everything and followed you.'”  (ESV – Read the chapter)

What Peter says here is no small thing.  Have you left everything and followed Jesus?  Have you really left anything to follow Him?  What did you leave behind?  If you have indeed not left anything behind, there is a rather uncomfortable question you are going to need to answer: Are you really following Jesus? Read the rest…

Morning Musings: 1 John 3:13

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“Do not be surprised, brothers, that the world hates you.”  (ESV – Read the chapter)

Make no mistake: If you are a follower of Jesus, the world hates you just like it hated Him.  Now, this doesn’t mean that everyone who isn’t one of His followers as well hates you.  You may (and should) have friends who are non-believers, some of whom may be very good friends.  But, for anyone who is committed to the ends of the world (the elevation of self and the desires of the flesh above all else), they will hate the ends of the kingdom toward which you are working (the elevation of God and the humiliation of self), a hatred which will eventually be worked out through you.

Persecution should never surprise us as followers of Jesus.  If we behave as He did, we will be treated as He was as well.  This should be a mark of pride, knowing that we are on the right track.

Morning Musings: 2 Timothy 3:12

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“Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.”  (ESV – Read the chapter)

Here is another place where we get realism instead of encouragement.  Yet how important is this reminder for those who are following Jesus?  If you want to follow Jesus well, you are going to face persecution of some kind.  In fact, if you’re not facing at least some amount of persecution, you may want to look at how you’re doing in the faith. Read the rest…