Hidden (Krypto) Treasures

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Tag: Follow me

Jesus Calls :: Known, Know and Follow

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On June 22, 2012

In Christian, Jesus Calls

Jesus referred to himself as the good shepherd and his people as the sheep who know him and are known by him (John 10:14) and then he went on to add that “my sheep hear my voice and I know them and they follow me” (John 10:27). When Jesus calls, his people hear his voice and he knows them and his people respond by following him. They follow him because they know him. What does it mean to know Jesus? To know Jesus is to believe in him, the chief Shepherd (1 Peter 5:4), which is eternal life (John 17:3).

Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13:8) and his call today is just as he expressed. He knows his sheep and he calls them. His sheep know him, hear his voice and follow him.

Points to ponder:
Does Jesus, the chief and good Shepherd, know you/me? Do you/I hear the voice of Jesus, the chief Shepherd? Do you/I know him? i.e., Are you/I assured of eternal life? If you/I know him and you/I hear his voice, do you/I respond by FOLLOWING him. Jesus calls – “Follow me”.

John 10:14 , 27-28 (KJV)
14 I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.
…
27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

John 17:3 (KJV)
3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

Jesus Calls :: Finding

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On June 21, 2012

In Christian, Jesus Calls

When Jesus called Philip, the Bible records that he found him (John 1:3). Jesus sought out and found Philip before telling him, “Follow me.”

Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13:8) and his call today to follow him and to be his disciple is very similar. He seeks you and me out and he finds you and me, before he asks us to follow him. Imagine this, that the God of the universe is seeking you to find you as a good shepherd seeks out the sheep that is lost (Luke 15:4).

Points to ponder:
Today if you hear his voice, harden not your heart, but respond to “Follow Jesus Christ” for he seeks you to find you. The question that remains, which demands an answer is, Have you in turn sought Jesus and found him and when you find him, are you willing to follow him, as he has concisely and precisely commanded?

John 1:43 (KJV)
43 The day following Jesus would go forth into Galilee, and findeth Philip, and saith unto him, Follow me.

Luke 15:2-7 (KJV)
2 And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.
3 And he spake this parable unto them, saying,
4 What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?
5 And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing.
6 And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost.
7 I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.

Jesus Calls :: Precisely

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On June 20, 2012

In Christian, Jesus Calls

When Jesus called his disciples, he was very precise. When he saw Simon Peter and his brother Andrew, the fishermen, he called them by saying “Follow me and I will make you fishers of men.” (Matthew 4:19). He was very specific about what he wanted his followers to be – fishers of men.

Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13:8) and his call today is just as precise as it was when he called Simon Peter and Andrew. His call today for you and me is “Follow him” so that he can make us fishers of men.

Points to ponder:
Today if you hear his voice, harden not your heart, but respond to “Follow Jesus Christ” for he has precisely commanded us to be made “fishers of men”, when we follow him.

Matthew 4:18-20 (KJV)
18 And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.
19 And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.
20 And they straightway left their nets, and followed him.

Jesus Calls :: Concisely

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On June 19, 2012

In Christian, Jesus Calls

When Jesus called his disciples, he was very concise, often using just a few words. When he saw Matthew, the tax collector (who was despised by his own people for his profession and deemed a sinner), he concisely commanded “Follow me” (Matthew 9:9). He isn’t garrulous in his call and is very direct. Jesus did not see Matthew for who he was (a sinful tax collector) but who he was going to be (his disciple).

Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13:8) and his call today is just as direct and concise as it was when he called Matthew, to be his disciple. He does not see us today for who we are, but who we are going to be as his disciple. His call today for you and me is concise – “Follow me” (to be his disciple).

Points to ponder:
Today if you hear his voice, harden not your heart, but respond to “Follow Jesus Christ” for he has concisely commanded – “Follow me.”

Matthew 9:9 (KJV)
9 And as Jesus passed forth from thence, he saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he saith unto him, Follow me. And he arose, and followed him. 

Comprehending the Cross

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On July 2, 2010

In Christian

People connect the Cross with Christianity. Christians often view the Cross as a punishment that Jesus had to undergo in the hands of the Romans. While the Cross is an object of affection, many dont want to have to do anything with it and some even hate it because it convicts of sin, and commands to surrender totally.

But what is the Cross? It is more than two pieces of wood, on which Jesus was crucified. It is God’s billboard of love for his people. To comprehend the Cross is to understand the fullness of God’s love. It is the breadth, the length, and depth and height of the love of Christ [that passeth all knowledge]. And Jesus said, “Take up your cross [daily] and follow me” (Luke 9:23).  The Cross is not merely an ornament to be worn, but an ordinance (command) to be borne.

Point(s) to ponder:
Are you/I wearing the Cross or bearing the Cross?

Ephesians 3:17-19 (KJV)
17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,
18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;
19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.

Luke 9:23-24 (KJV)
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.
24 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.

Follow or Get out of the way

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On February 3, 2010

In Christian

One of the games we used to play when growing up was called “Follow the leader” or the “Copycat” game. You are probably familiar with this game. One of the group members (designated as the guesser) is asked to leave the room while the rest in the group select a person (as their leader) whose actions they will mimic. When the guesser returns, the guesser will have to figure out who the leader is. The game would usually turn out hilarious when the selected leader chooses to do something wacky or funny.

Today’s corporate world glorifies leadership and often discounts service and servanthood to be weak. Corporate culture today can be summarized into the maxim, “Lead, Follow or Get out of the way”, which sadly is not entirely the model to emulate according to the Bible for the followers of Christ. The Christian model really is “Follow or get out of the way”. There is no “lead” in Christian life. The leader is One and that is Jesus Christ. All in His family should be imitators a.k.a. mimickers/followers of God (Ephesians 5:1). Unfortunately, many in the family of God (including Churches) today, think of themselves to be the leader, without an ounce of humility or an attitude of servanthood. They expect to be mimicked instead of following Christ and encouraging others to do the same. Jesus said, “Follow me” (Matthew 4:19; 8:22; 9:9). Apostle Paul, God’s chosen servant, did not say “Follow me” but instead said, “Follow me as I follow Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1).  It is Christ (the ONE and Only Leader) whom we should be following. Additionally, there are many among us, who seek preeminence amongst their peers and God’s people. They focus on their individual goals and aspirations and stand in the way of God, who is working in His people to accomplish His will in their lives. The self seeking spirit of Diotrephes (3 John 1:9) is in them instead of the Spirit of Demetrius (3 John 1:12). They pursue after man’s accolades (a running after the wind) instead of God’s approval (a solid foundation). For such, the counsel is “get out of the way” before God removes you (as he did Saul).

At this juncture, I must also assure that I am not anti-leadership or anti-Christian leadership. I am the first to admit that Christians need to be leaders in the secular world (as well as in God’s Church), so that they can be influential in reaching many who do not have access to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. But when Christians are given a position of power or authority (in their homes, work or in the Church), they must treat that privilege (which can be taken away anytime) with a heart of humility and an attitude of servanthood. Otherwise, the world will end up guessing as to who truly the leader is and if it is anyone other than Christ Jesus that they guess, then these leaders have missed the mark. Furthermore, if they end up living wacky lives, then those observing these leaders will find it funny, and this is no laughing matter.

Point(s) to ponder:
If the world sees you and me and our life (thoughts, words, and deeds), will they guess that our Leader is Jesus Christ, whom we ought to be imitators (mimickers/followers) of?

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