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Following Jesus

by Dr. Paul Chappell

“And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?”
Luke 6:46

If every person who talks about following Jesus and claims to be following Jesus were actually doing so, our world would be a very different place. Instead, a vast number of people pick and choose from a few isolated things that Jesus said or take their own interpretation of what Jesus said and do that. God’s pattern is different. He commands obedience in all things. In His last conversation with the disciples before His crucifixion, Jesus said, “Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you” (John 15:14).
It is said that on one occasion, a French army officer asked George Washington’s mother what she had done to rear her son into such a fine man. Mrs. Washington replied, “I taught him to obey.” There are many different aspects and duties of the Christian life, but all of them boil down to obedience. Only when we do what God says can we legitimately claim to be following Him. All of our declarations of love and submission can never substitute for the actual obedience Christ commands.
In Roman times, a ruler had absolute authority over his subjects and their lives. At a whim he could order people to be moved from one place to another. He even had the power of life and death, by executing anyone who displeased him. While God is not a capricious tyrant, He does have supreme authority. It is a contradiction to claim that He is Lord while at the same time disobeying what He says for us to do. If He is Lord (and He is) then He must be obeyed. We do not get to decide how we should live and what we should do because our lives do not belong to us.
 

Today’s Growth Principle: 

There is nothing that can take the place of our submissive obedience to the Lord’s commands.

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But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.   --1 Corinthians 15:57 If you want to be on the winning side of life, get on the right team—God’s team.   Why? Because God has a strategy for your victory no matter how things make look or how discouraged you may feel. Now, you may say, “Wait Pastor, you don’t know my situation. You don’t how bleak things look for me.” And you know what, you’re right, I don’t know what you’re going through today. But one thing I do know is that some of the most incredible victories in life come when we face what looks like an insurmountable obstacle. All you and I have to do is what God has called us to do, which is to stay faithful and stay obedient. Live according to the plan that God has outlined for you in His Word. And trust that He cares about your future! As a follower of the Lord Jesus Christ, you’re not really fighting for victory. You are fighting from victory! The victory is already yours if you are on God’s team. I hope you will stand on this hope and promise today! Remember your source of victory—Jesus Christ, and refuse to let your circumstances get you down.