09/15               1 Peter 2:21

21 For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you. He is your example, and you must follow in his steps. 

LEARN

Learn about Jesus by spending time with Him.  Study the Word.  Talk with Him.  Listen to Him.  Make sure that you become and hearer of the Word and carefully apply that word to our life and do what He says.  Be a doer of the Word in addition to a hearer of the word. 

Jesus is Lord. 

09/14               John 8:31-32

31 Jesus said to the people who believed in him, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. 32 And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” 

TRUTH

Jesus wants us to know the truth.  He will not hide if from us.  If we will spend time with Him and ask Him He will tell us the truth and it will set us free from bondage.  We show our love for Jesus by listening to what He says and doing that out of our obedience for Him.  The Lord is good and gracious and He loves you and me. 

09/13               John 12:26

26 Anyone who wants to serve me must follow me, because my servants must be where I am. And the Father will honor anyone who serves me. 

FOLLOW

We are called to follow Jesus 24/7.  This is something we can do.  Surrender.  Spend time with Jesus.  Do what He says.  His burden is light.  His yoke is easy.  Listen to Him and do what He says.  Jesus is worthy of all of our devotion and service. 

09/12               Ephesians 2:10

10 For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. 

YOU

This verse is talking about you.  Each one of us is created to be God’s masterpiece.  We can choose to follow Jesus and will discover our usefulness. There is peace and joy in following Jesus. 

09/11               Psalm 128:1

1 How joyful are those who fear the LORD — all who follow his ways! 

GOD

Our loving God is amazing.  He is just and righteous.  He sees and hears everything we do.  We have no secrets from Him.  We should fear God for His righteousness is fierce and just.  But even though we do fear Him remember that Jesus saves us from all unrighteousness, cleansing us from our sin and paying the price of our sin-we are saved by the Son!  We want to do right, we strive to do right and even then we fall so far short.  One author said that if we didn’t see ourselves as the most evil person we knew, we didn’t understand the pervasive nature of our sin.  Jesus saves us. 

09/10               Ephesians 5:1

1 Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. 

REALITY

The reality is that imitating God is our choice.  He deeply wants us to follow Him but He will not make us do His will.  But if I am seeking to follow Him, He will equip me to do His will and to grow in Christ likeness. 

09/09               Mark 8:34

34 Then, calling the crowd to join his disciples, he said, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me. 

LIFE

The Christ life requires change.  I must change from the selfish person that I was (dead in my trespasses and sin) and become more like Jesus day by day.  To do this I will need to spend time with Jesus and do what He says. I cannot continue living like the world and be an effective servant for the Lord Jesus Christ.  Jesus is Lord.  I will either follow Him or follow the world.  There are no middle positions in a Christ like life. 

09/08               Galatians 5:25

25Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives. 

SURRENDER

To follow the Spirit there must be a surrender of your will.  Will you listen?  Will you respond to what the Spirit says?  If you don’t hear the Spirit guiding you, you aren’t listening. Listen to the Lord and do what He says. 

09/07               Deuteronomy 13:4

4Serve only the LORD your God and fear him alone. Obey his commands, listen to his voice, and cling to him. 

PERSONAL

The focused Christian Life is based on a personal relationship with Jesus and our faithfulness to the commands of Jesus.  Remember that the Word doesn’t call us to just think right, there is a call to do the next right thing.  Be about the master’s business.  The Christian life is and inner and outer life.  We change the way we think and the things we do.  Both and not either or. 

09/06               Matthew 10:38

38 If you refuse to take up your cross and follow me, you are not worthy of being mine. 

TAKE

Take up your responsibility in Christ and follow Him. We are called to follow Him.  Therefore, we are committed to Bible Study, daily prayer, forgiveness, humility and sacrifice.  Jesus says we are to emulate Him, bringing love and care for a dead world.  Jesus is Lord and we are called to grow into His likeness.