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Blogs > ms_warriorthingy > A Follower of Christ > Sep 28, 2008
A Follower of Christ
  
Nobody worries about Christ as long as he can be kept shut up in
churches. He is quite safe inside. But there is always trouble
if you try and let him out.

-- G. A. Studdert Kennedy


A Christian……..a follower of Christ……how do you follow Christ? How do you love Christ? Whose will………His will? How do you hear Him when He speaks? Do you hear Him? Do you listen?

Which are you…….one like the woman caught in adultery……..or the prideful scorner hurling stones?

Are you like the humble tax collector who comes before God admitting your brokenness……….or are you like the Pharisee…..better than the broken one?

Are you saved? You know the beginning…….you know the ending…….but what comes between?

What does this mean?
Luk 9:23 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.

What does it mean to you?

I have to admit, there is nothing easy in being a follower of Christ. It’s easy being saved, easy reading the Bible, going to church, praying but when it comes to actually living our belief and faith……we fail miserably.

Mat 11:29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
Mat 11:30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

I have taken these two verses to heart in a big way. Because being a follower of Christ is sometimes burdensome. Giving up your desires for His desires, asking for His will in your life as opposed to your own….this is not an easy thing. But He equips us, and gives us the strength we need to walk the walk with Him.

Psa 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.

When you ask God to create in you a clean heart…….it means sometimes He has to break you down, bring you to your knees……..and it hurts! Coming face to face with God with all your brokenness has got to be one of the most painful things you will ever do….but I can tell you from the depth of my heart that it is the most spirit refreshing thing you will ever do!

The closer you draw to God, the lonlier you feel as a Christian. There is nothing sadder than talking with a fellow believer about the wonders of the Holy Spirit, the amazing grace of God, and they look at you with glazed eyes. I know this because I too once stood with glazed eyes, just “not getting it”. When I talk about listening to His Word while I sleep, or listening to His Word on my IPOD as I walk, other Christians look at me as though I am whacko!

Mat 22:37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

What does that verse mean to you? It means exactly what it says to me.

And if we are mocked for loving God this way……….who is being mocked……is it me………is it God’s work in me……..is it God Himself?

Mt. 11:15
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DEALING WITH THE __________________ Sep 28, 2008 2:48 pm
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Quoting a friend: It is the day to day trudging along times that test our ability to stay connected to God and our faith. Easy to do when we're on the mountain top, and even in the valley if we are crying out in despair. But those flat-lined times . . . now there's the challenge for me!

Sometimes the words of someone can spur you on. These words that Susan quoted "now there's the challenge" kind of woke me up out of my stupor.

I have flatlined badly. For the first time in years, I can honestly say I am depressed....not just sad but depressed. I've lost motivation, lost direction, lost hope (ok maybe not all hope) but just walking heavy footed. Trying very hard to stay laughing and "up there" but failing miserably.

I keep being reminded of the Israelites as they trudged through the wilderness.....there is a lot to be learned from their struggle! I mean, here they were, God had delivered them from calamity.......yet they were moaning and whining to Moses that they would have been better off in Egypt!

Why? Coz they could not see what was ahead...all they could see was the struggle of this exodus they were on. Nothing terribly exciting happening out here in the wilderness....

But they were forgetting what they left behind......they were treated pretty shabbily by Pharoah. He didn't treat God's people as God intended for them to be treated. They were slaves to a selfish despot.

Yet here they were, moaning about what was left behind! Crikey!

Ok but you know what? the reality is......yes we can be very grateful that God stepped in and took us out of a bad situation.....we can be very hopeful about the promise of a better tomorrow.....and yet......WE STILL HAVE TO DEAL WITH THE DUM DI DUM TRUDGING OF TODAY.

And as Susan says......THIS IS THE CHALLENGE.

So this is where I am today. I am so sad about what is lost, it tears my heart apart sometimes.....yet I know that God has a plan and a purpose in everything....I know there will be a better tomorrow...my promised land.....but I'm stuck here in the middle and I am floundering and whiny...just like the Israelites.

I'm reading Isaiah right now....this is a great book, and there are some incredible nuggets of hope in these chapters.....

ps thanks for putting up with my moaning and whining!!

15 Comments
SWIMMING AGAINST THE CURRENT Sep 28, 2008 4:10 am
431 Views
1Th 5:16 Rejoice evermore.
1Th 5:17 Pray without ceasing.
1Th 5:18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

As I was praying tonight, this is what I felt God saying to me. Oh boy! I'm sure you can identify....when you are in a deep funk, it's very very hard to summon a rejoicing spirit!

Yet this is what He requires of us.....no matter what. In EVERYTHING give thanks.

I do believe He blesses us for our obedience and faithfulness....and He understands.....He knows the state of our hearts, He knows the depth of our pain......and He blesses through it all. Thank you, Father
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