Follower of Christ? (Part #1)

Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. James 1:2-4 (NASB)

We know that following Christ is not a sprint but a marathon. We know that following Christ takes much effort on our part. We know that following Christ means we will go to heaven some day… But do you know that following Christ means great sacrifice on our part? Followers of Christ will suffer, be persecuted, have to endure hardship and will be hated by the world? "Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. "Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. "Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. Matthew 5:10-12 (NASB). I am amazed at how ignorant people who claim their allegiance to Jesus Christ are when it comes to the call to sacrifice, suffering, persecution and at some point even death for our faith. We don’t like hearing the truth, but we can’t escape its presence or grip. Do a word study some time on one of those words and see how we are to be connected with them.

James let’s us know that we are going to experience trials, testing various difficulties that will provide us the opportunity to step up and stand tall for our Lord. These difficulties challenge us to go deeper, be stronger, and to live our lives more biblically.  What is the “perfect result” you ask? We will be more and more like our Lord Jesus. So often we forget what we signed up for when we decided to follow Jesus. We started off well and aflame for the things of God, but some time later we gradually melted into a pool of  “cultural consumer Christianity”.  Not all swim in such a pool in fact, many choose to deny themselves take up their cross and daily follow Jesus.  Jesus Himself said, "Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. "For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it. Matthew 7:13-14 (NASB).  It is easy to think that Jesus is referring to the flat out pagan not realizing that those who claimed a religious affiliation are also referenced. Then one of the passages that still haunts my mind and keeps me attempting to walk the straight and narrow is Matthew 7:21-23 (NASB). "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. "Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?' "And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.'

I guess one question to ask yourself… does my life look more like the Jesus of the bible, or the Jesus of cultural Christianity? How would you know? I think one way is to look at the true fruit in your life. Are there spiritual things happening in and through your life or merely behavioral changes that you are making? Who is guiding your changes, your culture, your church, your Christian peers or the Holy Spirit? Still another way is to look at your prayer life, how much is about your comfort and blessing and how much is praise and adoration or an awe of the God of Heaven? Is your time with Jesus a short read of a titled devotional or a basking in His holy presence? Does His holiness convict you of sin and lead you to repentance or do you play the “cheap grace” card and carry on as if nothing ever happened? What about your times in His word? What do those look like? Do you see the correlation between time in the word and when Jesus says,  "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. Matthew 5:6 (NASB). Are you hungry for more of God resulting in His righteousness in and through your life?  What is satisfying you? Is it work, T.V., family, church programs, toys, projects, etc.? Really?  

How you respond in your heart to the passages above and to some of the things I have written may be a litmus test to where your heart truly is. May the Holy Spirit awaken us all to think, speak and walk in all His ways. Amen!