In David Platt’s latest book, “Follow Me”, he writes a profound truth that, if consistently grasped, would radically transform the way we live. David says, “Feel the magnitude of this: when you come to Jesus, He puts the source of His life in the center of your life. This is the heart of Jesus’ call to follow Him. When you become a Christian, you die, and Jesus becomes your life.” Those of us on a journey to follow Jesus already know this in our heads, but have we truly grasped it in our hearts? Think about what is implied here. We die. Everything we once found so valuable, all that we considered worth working towards, every source of pleasure – none of it matters anymore.
Luke
The Life of a Disciple
Being a disciple of Jesus means you are constantly seeking to obey His commands and live in the manner He did. It means demonstrating love in all your interactions and exemplifying humility as you consistently seek to serve others. It’s a tall order and one that is not easily accomplished. Jesus warned that the way to Heaven was through a narrow gate (Matthew 7:13-14). Without a doubt, it’s easier to travel the wide and well worn path in life, but we have chosen to follow Christ. As a result, our lives must look different from those around us. When people see us, they should catch a glimpse of Jesus.
Deceived
As I sat in a Sunday morning service recently, the musicians quit playing so all that was heard were the voices of those gathered. I smiled, basking in the sound of God’s people offering praise to our King. But suddenly I became overwhelmed with sadness. Were these really God’s people? How many of those present thought they were Christians simply because they had prayed a prayer at some point in their lives? How many would leave that place to think little more of Christ until they returned the next week? I wondered how many of those gathered were true disciples of Jesus, seeking to serve others, express His love, and obey His commands every day of their lives. How many were deceived thinking their eternity was set, when in reality the truth was far short of this?
Who is Jesus to You?
Who is Jesus to you? Is He an example of how to live a good life? Perhaps you consider Him to be the greatest teacher or philosopher who ever walked the earth. Most who read this blog would respond that He is their savior. Many would even dare to claim that Jesus is the Lord of their lives. Some people think that Jesus was a lunatic. Others think He is nothing more than legend, a nice story developed to encourage people to live moral lives. What others say is of no consequence. All that matters is who Jesus is to you.
Right Now
I turn forty-five later this week and it occurred to me that I’m probably about half-way through my life. I’m in good health, decent shape, and I take care of myself. It would seem that living to the age of ninety would not be too much of a stretch. But what if I’m wrong? What if I only have thirty years remaining? What about twenty, or ten? What if my life should unexpectedly end next week? As Jesus said, none of us have any guarantee of tomorrow (Luke 12:16-20). Any of us could find that our next breath is actually our last. That should affect the way we live. Knowing tomorrow could be our last day on earth should have radical implications on how we live today.