Go As Jesus Commanded

How well do you follow commands? Have you been in a profession in which instant obedience is required? How well do you think you would adapt to such a profession? Are you following Jesus’ commands?

Jesus did not give many commands. He said we are to love God, love our neighbor, follow Him, and make disciples. We are typically pretty good at acknowledging the first three, even if we don’t always follow them. It’s the fourth one that gives us the most anxiety.

Jesus didn’t give us an option in any one of His commands. That’s why we call them commands. If there were choices in doing them or not, we would call them suggestions, guidelines, or even principles. But we don’t call them any of those, rather they are called commands.

The command to go make disciples scares many of us. Yet, it is not nearly as scary as we make it out to be. In fact, many people we talk to everyday know something about God and are willing to talk about him. It is the fear of ridicule, ostracization, or embarrassment that causes us to hesitate. That fear comes from Satan, plain and simple. He wants to stop us from carrying out Jesus’ command. Let’s all pray that God remove our fear and we carry out all of Jesus’ commands.

I pray we all seek to follow Jesus’ commands. I pray we desire to obey every one of them. I pray each one of us will ask God to wipe out our fear so we will go make disciples of Jesus Christ. Follow Jesus’ commands. Ask God to remove your fear. Go, make disciples.

Matthew 28:19-20 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Show Your Love

Have you ever taken time to contemplate how you love? How do others know you love them? Is it because you tell them you do? Or is it how you treat them? What do you think? How do you know when someone else loves you? Is it through words or actions?

Let’s just say right up front, there is nothing wrong with telling someone you love them. In fact, it is good to tell them. They need to hear it and you need to express your feelings verbally. Yet, verbally should not be the only way we express our love for one another.

Our loved should be expressed in the same way Jesus expressed His love for His disciples. How did He do that? He did it with actions and speech. Jesus showed them His love by rescuing them from the storm, just as He rescues us from our storms. He gave them wise advice through His teachings, and He does so for us today. He fed them when they were hungry, and He feds us today. He rebuked them when they were wrong, and He rebukes us today as well. But He rebuked them with love and followed it with teaching them appropriately.

We can follow Jesus’ form of expressing love. We can be there during a time of need. We can provide wise advice based on our years of experience or diligent research of a topic. We can feed our loved ones by preparing a meal. We can let them know they are incorrect and provide a correct explanation calmly. All of this should be done with love and compassion. It is not done to build ourselves up or position ourselves above them.

Jesus did not boast about Himself to His disciples. He demonstrated who He is and asked them who they thought He was. He did not lord it over them that He was the Son of God. Instead, he served them. We are also called to be servants, not lords. By being servants of one another, we show the love of Jesus in us to others.

I pray we all love one another. I pray we seek to show our love for others in the same way Jesus showed His love. I pray we serve one another through actions done in love. Show the love of Jesus. Show your love through actions. Love one another. Serve one another in love.

John 15:12 “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.”

Complete Joy

How much joy do you have? Not just happiness with things, but joy that remains within you regardless of the situation. Do you have that kind of joy? Do you want that kind of joy? Do you know that it is available to you? It is the very reason Jesus gave us His teachings.

True joy is both easy and hard to come by. It is easy when we follow Jesus’ teachings and commands. It is hard when we listen to the world and are filled with the desires of it. We often chase after happiness rather than following Jesus to pure joy.

Why is the world so enticing? We like what I call shiny objects, things that catch our attention. They can be anything from jewelry to a beautiful partner, climbing the corporate ladder or chasing a professional sports career, getting the right dog or buying the right clothes. Shiny objects one and all…if we allow them to become the focus of our attention rather than Jesus.

But when we listen to Jesus’ teachings and seek to understand and follow them, we fine the pure joy we all desire. It is the type of joy we can only achieve through Jesus. The question we must answer is, will we believe it, or will we continue to chase temporary happiness to fill the void we have inside without His joy.

Jesus tells us in no uncertain terms that He has said everything He said so that we may have the same joy He has. That is the pure joy of knowing, not only Him, but God the Father. When He says that our joy will be complete, it means to come to full fruition, to be made whole, to be completely fulfilled. This is the joy our inner being desires.

I pray we all seek the pure joy of Jesus Christ. I pray we listen to and understand Jesus’ teachings. I pray each one of us will experience a full and complete joy as we follow Jesus’ commands. Seek pure joy. Listen to Jesus. Understand Jesus’ teachings. May your joy be made complete.

John 15:11 I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete.

Conquer the World

Do you want to conquer the world? Have you been trying diligently and coming up short? Is your strength failing you? Do you wish someone with some sense would take over the world? Are you ready to no longer need to care about the world? Do you know you can?

Our world is off its rocker sometimes. In fact, it seems it is off its rocker most of the time anymore. We have multiple wars going on simultaneously, protests against one but not the others, political turmoil in several countries, and discrimination in nearly every country.

Sometimes, we just want to escape. We don’t want to hear any more news. It would be nice to stick our head in the sand and ignore all that is going on around. Or,…it would be nice to change everyone and everything to rid ourselves of the mess we see in the news every day. Unfortunately, neither will do us much good.

You know what will do us good? Conquer the world! No, not in the way you are thinking. We conquer the world through our belief in Jesus Christ. As our belief and faith in Him grows strong, as we learn to see His plan, as we learn to see the world the way He sees it, as we learn to trust Him more, we conquer this world. It doesn’t mean the world will change into the world we wish for. It does mean we are no longer mentally exhausted, or anxiety riddled with it.

It may sound crazy, but we really can conquer the world. This is especially true when we grow to be more like Jesus. You see, He has already conquered the world. He has also conquered sin and death. He has conquered fear, anxiety, worry, hate, discrimination, and all other types of ugliness and evil. The closer we get to Him, the closer we get to conquering the world.

I pray we all seek to grow closer to Jesus. I pray we seek to be more like Him. I pray each one of us seek to conquer the world and all its ugliness through Jesus, our Lord and Savior. Grow closer to Jesus. Learn to be more like Him. Conquer the world. Conquer sin. Conquer death.

1 John 5:5 Who is it that conquers the world but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

Core Belief

How many true beliefs do you have? Not just a superficial belief but a deep down, heartfelt belief. Are there many of them? Do you believe your job will be there for you for as long as you want it? Do you believe you will live to be a hundred years old?

A heartfelt belief in something can be hard to come by. We may have a superficial belief in many things. We can believe someone is truthful with us…until we catch them in a lie. We can believe our job is safe…until we are suddenly laid off. But belief is part of life.

As we live our lives, belief comes and goes. We discover new information that changes our beliefs. We witness events that can reinforce or shake our beliefs. It seems as though we walk through life on ground that is continually moving, as though it is rolling as it might through an earthquake.

However, it is our core belief that will sustain us. Without a core belief, we wander through life like a rudderless boat tossed about on the ocean. What core belief can be based on truth that will never change? The truth of God. John tells us that when we believe that Jesus is born of God, we also love God and his children. This mean that we love God the Father, God the Son, and all his other children.

Loving God’s children is not always easy. Yet, if we truly believe in God’s truth, we will love his children. How can this be? We come to know the truth of God’s Word. God reveals himself and how he loves each one of us. We may not always like what another child of God does, but we can love them as a child of God. This love, just as our belief, becomes part of our inner self.

I pray we all have a heartfelt belief in God. I pray we come to know God’s truth through his Word. I pray each one of us grow in our love for God and for all his children. Believe in God the Father. Believe in God the Son. Know God’s truth. Read God’s Word. Grow in the love of God. Love God’s children.

1 John 5:1 Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the parent loves the child.

Open Yourself Up

Have you ever been astonished? Has something so amazing happened that you were speechless? Was it something you thought would never happen? Did it open your eyes to new possibilities? Has that ever happened with regards to something God has done?

Witnessing something amazing can stop us in our tracks. It is especially astounding if it is something we thought was impossible. We are amazed to the point that our mouths drop open, our eyes bulge, and we are speechless. All we can say, “Wow!”

The Jewish people who went along with Peter to take the gospel to a Roman centurion and his household were amazed when the Holy Spirit was poured out on them. They thought the Holy Spirit would only come to the Jews. When they witnessed what happened and how the gentiles responded to the gift of the Holy Spirit, their jaws dropped wide open.

As much as the Jews were astonished, I’m sure the gentiles were surprised as well. They would have been overjoyed. Their heads were throwed back, their hands lifted to the heavens, and they were proclaiming the amazing work of God. The joy they were experiencing is beyond what we can imagine today. We don’t experience the Holy Spirit in quite the way they did early in church history.

Yet, we can experience the Holy Spirit. We can be amazed when he sends us messages. They come in a still, small voice. They come our way through others. The Holy Spirit moves in and around us in many ways and through many people. We just need to open ourselves up to him.

I pray we all are amazed at how the Holy Spirit moves. I pray we experience the Holy being poured out on us. I pray each one of us open ourselves to listening for the Holy Spirit to speak to us. Be amazed. Experience the Holy Spirit. Be in awe. Be moved by the Holy Spirit. Open yourself up to the Holy Spirit.

Acts 10:44-46 While Peter was still speaking, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who heard the word. The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astounded that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles, for they heard them speaking in tongues and extolling God.

Sing a New Song

Do you have songs pop into you head? Do you start singing or humming them? Are they songs of joy? Do you they make you feel happy or put you in a good mood? Is your day better when you have a joyous song in your head? Have you ever made up your own song?

If you are like me, there are times when a song comes to mind. It is especially joyful when the song lifts my spirits and makes me feel good. Sometimes, that song will stay in my head all day long. It makes my day better, regardless of what happens.

Children can be quite the joy. They have very little inhibition. They will make up songs about all kinds of things. Usually, they are happy songs. They may be silly, but they make the kids laugh and usually us, too. We laugh along and the kids enjoy it. But when we get to be adults, we are less likely to make up silly new songs. We don’t want people to laugh because we think they are laughing at us rather than with us.

Yet, the Psalmist encourages us to sing a new song. We are encouraged to sing a song from the heart. It doesn’t have to be an old hymn, which none of them are old compared to the Psalms. It doesn’t have to be a song we have heard on the radio. It can simply be a song that comes to our mind that praises or gives thanks to God for who he is and what he has done for us.

So, make up a song and sing it to the Lord. Sing from your heart. God will love hearing your song. It doesn’t have to be grand in the eyes of others. It will be grand in the eyes of God. He will cherish the song you sing from your heart to him. Let your hair down and be vulnerable before God.

I pray we all sing a new song. I pray we sing the praise of our God. I pray each one of us will sing with all our hearts to God and give him the glory in song. Sing your heart out. Sing praises to God. Sing thanks to God. Give God the glory. Sing from your heart. Know that God will cherish your song.

Psalm 98:1-2

O sing to the Lord a new song, 

for he has done marvelous things. 

His right hand and his holy arm 

have gotten him victory. 

The Lord has made known his victory; 

he has revealed his vindication in the sight of the nations.

Partner with Jesus

Does what others receive bother you? If they are recognized for an achievement, do you dislike them? If they receive a special gift, are you jealous? Do you continually compare yourself to others? How do you think that impacts your life in Jesus?

We see it nearly every day. Someone receives a gift and someone else is jealous. Someone is recognized for doing a good job and people turn against them. We often compare ourselves to others. Doing so is bad juju for us.

Jesus explicitly tells Peter not to worry about what will happen to John. Jesus simply tells Peter to follow Him. We are not to worry about what others receive, whether recognition or gifts. We are better off to simply be appreciative of what we receive.

Not only that, but Jesus calls us to partner with Him. In fact, just before Peter asks about John, Jesus had just told Peter to feed His lambs and intimated the kind of death Peter would face. Jesus was giving Peter a mission to carry out for Him. Peter had his feelings hurt because Jesus had asked him three times if he loved Him.

Peter feels like Jesus is calling him out when Jesus is actually giving him the most important mission for the kingdom. It was not Peter’s right to know what Jesus had planned for John. Jesus was calling him into partnership, and he needed to answer affirmatively.

Jesus also calls us into partnership. We are not to worry about what someone else is called to. We are to carry out the mission Jesus has given us. The sooner we have this mindset, the better.

I pray we all choose to partner with Jesus. I pray we stop worrying about others. I pray each one of us will take on the mission Jesus has set before us to further His kingdom here on earth. Be a partner with Jesus. Listen to Him. Carry out His mission. Have the same mind as Jesus.

John 21:22 Jesus said to him, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? Follow me!”

Freedom of the Spirit

Do you prefer to follow rules or principles? Do you want thinks laid out in black and white or like a lot of gray? Do you like to adhere to tradition or be free to follow your heart? Have you realized one of these binds you and the other sets you free?

Some people prefer hard bound rules, laws, traditions, and everything written out in black and white. They find it easy to be able to check the boxes. They will also insist that everyone else follow these rules, laws, and traditions in the same manner they do.

However, there are some who prefer the freedom to ride the wind. They don’t want to be bound to the hard-set rules. Hand them a few principles or guidelines to follow and they are good to go. They experience freedom in a way the rule followers can never imagine.

We can get so wrapped up in rules and traditions that we no longer have the freedom to follow where the Holy Spirit leads us. There are a variety of traditions surrounding baptism, including infant baptism, baptism only when a child is old enough to make their own decision, and requiring classes for an adult prior to baptism. In some ways, our rules or traditions are set up to be a gatekeeper for God. Do we really think God needs a gatekeeper?

Notice the example of baptism in today’s passage. Philip had followed the Holy Spirit’s guidance, gone to the road he was told to, heard the Ethiopian eunuch reading Isaiah, sat down to explain the gospel of Jesus for a short period of time. We don’t know if it was thirty minutes or three hours. We do know the eunuch believed and asked to be baptized when they were approaching some water and Philip agreed to baptize him. God works through his Holy Spirit. We should not think we are gatekeepers. Instead, we should seek to follow the guidance of the Holy Spirit just as Philip did.

I pray we all seek to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit. I pray we stop trying to be the gatekeeper for God. I pray each one of us will break free of the hold we have allowed rules to bind us. Follow the Holy Spirit’s lead. Be free of man-made rules. Live in the freedom of Jesus Christ.

Acts 8:36 As they were going along the road, they came to some water; and the eunuch said, “Look, here is water! What is to prevent me from being baptized?”

You Know Enough

What would you think if you had and encounter with an angel? How do you think you would react? Do you think you would feel overwhelmed? Would it scare you to death if the angel just appeared out of the blue? Would you do exactly what it told you to do?

We don’t normally encounter angels. In fact, the people of the Bible did not normally encounter angels. You can read the entire Bible and only account for approximately a dozen times in which angels appeared. So, encountering an angel is truly a rare event.

We don’t know what Philip was doing, but he certainly wasn’t expecting an angel to appear. But an angel sent by God suddenly appears to Philip and gives him a mission. Notice the angel doesn’t tell Philip what he is supposed to do. He simply tells Philip to walk down a road. Philip obeyed without question.

As Philip was walking down the road, he encounters an Ethiopian eunuch who serves Candace, who is the queen of the Ethiopians. At that time the Spirit tells Philip to go to the chariot. Philip goes over and discovers the eunuch reading from Isaiah. Philip asks if the eunuch understands. The eunuch says he cannot unless someone explains it to him. Philip begins in Isaiah and explains about Jesus Christ.

We may not encounter an angel, but we can encounter people who do not know or understand the story of Jesus. We can take time to explain the gospel to them. Some will say they do not know enough to teach someone else. However, to teach someone else, all you need to know is more than they do. So, even if you feel unprepared, you know more than many others. And just like Philip, rely on the Spirit to guide you in your explanation.

I pray we all look for opportunities to tell others about Jesus. I pray we listen for the voice of the Spirit. I pray each one of us know that we know enough about Jesus to teach someone else. Seek opportunities. Tell others about Jesus. Trust the Spirit to guide you. You know enough.

Acts 8:26 Then an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Get up and go toward the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” (This is wilderness road.)