By Divine Design – Part 2 – Follow Jesus

Michael continues: Having been born again, when Jesus asks us if we are willing to follow him, our answer like Peter’s is, “Where else can we go.” Since we were born again, how can we who are dead to sin live any longer therein?  I have decided to follow Jesus, no turning back… no turning back.  We have been called to the body of Christ and into the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Jesus Christ has called us to be His dependable ones for such a time as this. According to Ephesians 4, we have been called as fittings within the body of Christ fitly framed together and compacted by that which every joint supplies according to the effectual working of every part to the edifying of the body in love. We need Godly men and women in our life to see us through the tribulations of life … brothers and sisters who put Jesus first, despite the confusion and disillusionment of this world of Vanity Faire. As we look back over the years, we need to appreciate those whom God has called to surround us and to influence our lives. Talk is cheap. You can fake caring but you can’t fake showing up.  Disappointment is the result of failing to meet God and those He has called at the appointed time. 

Psalm 111:10 “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding. To him belongs eternal praise.”

You teach what you know but you reproduce who you are. Who are you in Christ? Jesus has called men and women whose heart’s desire is to be just like their master … His hands behind our hands, His feet behind our feet, His  eyes behind our eyes, His heart behind our heart. Jesus answered the rich young ruler who asked, “What must I do to be saved?”  He said you have a problem with materialism. You need to go and sell everything that you have, give the proceeds to the poor, and come and follow me” – Mark 10:21. The first and greatest commandment is “Thou shall have no other gods between your face and my face.”  What comes between you and God?  To approach the throne of God we must forsake ourselves, and approach the Holy of Holies with a humble, broken and contrite heart. 

To be excited about following Christ, we need to understand that God is doing everything to build Christ’s character into our life. Seek and ye shall find … when the student is ready the teacher will come. We can come to Him the hard way or the easy way. We can be brought to our knees by the trials and the tribulations of this world or we can come willingly with personal abandonment and absolute trust. This is the essence of faith. Can you trust God with your career, your spouse, your children, your worldly possessions? What must God do to teach us that all we have is His. Jesus said that he who loses his life for my sake shall find it. The last beatitude says, “Blessed are they when people shall revile you and persecute you and say all manner of evil against you for my sake, for great is your reward in heaven.” 

The “world’s way” is diametrically opposed to the “Word’s way”. Choose ye this day whom ye will serve… as for me and my house, we will serve the lord – Joshua 24:15. As long as we can pray, we will always have strength to shine as lights in this world of darkness. Our prayer must be, “Lord not my will but thine be done.” What is the purpose for which God designed me? It is He who has made us and not we ourselves. We are His people and the sheep of His pasture. Be thankful unto Him and bless His name – Psalm 100:4.  For he who knew no sin was made the perfect sin sacrifice on our behalf, that we may be made the righteousness of God in Him – 2 Corinthians 5:21. God has designed us according to His Divine purpose … to the praise of the glory of His grace wherein He has made us acceptable in the beloved. 

May God richly bless you.
Your brother in Christ,

Michael