Hindsight

Thanks to Pastor Steve Stahl for challenging us on Sunday not to complicate Jesus message but to simply, “follow” him wherever He leads!

It’s fascinating to me that Matthew presents Jesus as having amazing authority.  There is a constant emphasis in Matthew’s gospel of Jesus supreme power and authority over his created world.  He has supreme authority over:

·      Paralysis and suffering, 8:6

·      Illness, 9:22

·      Blindness, 9:30

·      Disease, 8:3

·      Storms, 8:23

·      Temple worship, 12:3

·      Sin, 9:2

·      Demonic power, 8:31, 15:28

·      Nature, 21:18

·      History 26:64

·      Ultimate destiny of people, 7:21

·      His own destiny, 16:21, 20:17

·      Space, time and the future, 18:19, 28:20

Yet in Matthew 9:9-13 Jesus tells us we’ve been created in the image of God and possess free will and therefore have to choose whether or not we’ll follow him. 

In his book “Renovation of the Heart,” Dallas Willard says he’s afraid of losing his connection to Christ.  He’s not afraid of losing his salvation IN Christ, but losing his connection TO Christ.  Why?  Because every day we get up we have free will to choose how we’ll use that day. 

I have to choose to connect with Christ every single day of my life.

I have to choose to remember Christ every single day of my life.

I have to choose to speak with Christ every single day of my life.

I have to choose to read about Christ every single day of my life.

I have to choose to be aware of Christ every single day of my life.

We’re all followers, the question is, “Who are we following?”  We can follow our parents philosophies, our teachers examples, our siblings attitudes, our favorite celebrities mannerisms or music artists song lyrics, our neighbors actions, our own core beliefs about human nature.  Or, we can follow Jesus and incorporate His words into our lives.

Love your neighbor as yourself!

Turn the other cheek!

If you are asked to go a mile, go two!

Following Christ is simple and very challenging all at the same time.  Thanks a lot Pastor Steve! This week may turn out to be a real turning point in my life.

God bless,

Pastor Ed