So it is another new year and as usual we all have high hopes and resolutions for the rest of the year. I would usually think about all my mistakes from the previous year and hope not to repeat those mistakes, make commitments about my health(and weight!) and pray that this will be a prosperous year. We all send out messages via text, social media e.t.c declaring great things for the year. These are all well and good. It is good to start the year in high hopes and in good spirits. For the first time in my life by the end of the year I became more concerned with my spiritual journey with Jesus... don't get me wrong I do hope for good things this year and every time I got one of those lovely text messages on new years eve, I smiled and said a big "AMEN TO THAT" but I got thinking about what I am really here for, the years just go by and what exactly is it that I am here to do? This is a question we all ask ourselves... it is a natural human question...we all believe we are special, we all believe there is more to us than the daily waking up, going to work, taking care of the home...going to bed and it all starts off again.
I was a little quieter this year, I had to pause for a moment and think about who I really am. I am first of all a disciple of Jesus Christ, a wife, a mother, a daughter, a sister, a doctor...I am all these things but what is more important is what I am here for. "I am a disciple of Jesus Christ"... . this thought has been in my heart for a few days now. I asked myself....am I really a disciple, am I really a follower of Jesus Christ? Have I really considered the cost of following Christ or am I just a fan?
Okay step back to 1994 when I first gave my life to Jesus- why did I do that? Was it just an emotional experience or was it a conscious surrender to the one who gave me his all and redeemed me from my sins and eternal death. Did I follow Christ because I hoped my life will finally be in order, things will work out for me, He will provide for me or sort out the various problems in my life? Why did I decide to follow Christ?
I believe these are the days when we really have to be honest and ask ourselves this very important question. Many of us follow Jesus for so many reasons, some just want to be associated with Him, some for what they can get from Him- good health, financial stability,good kids, good marriage, fruit of the womb,a miracle of some sort. So to most Jesus is the handy man who can get our broken lives back together.
Did it ever occur to you that we are saved to save others from the pending doom to come to all who are not saved? WE ARE CALLED TO BE DISCIPLES, TO DO THE WILL OF GOD HERE ON EARTH! To proclaim good news to the poor(by poor here it means those in their natural state...in sin),to bind up the broken hearted,to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners,to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour and the day of vengeance of our God.....(Isaiah 61) This is what we have been saved to do. After the resurrection Jesus asked Peter... do you love me more than these? He asked Peter this question 3 times until Peter was hurt because he asked him again and again...Do you love me more than these? Peter replied- "You know I love you Lord!" Jesus replied " Feed my sheep" Then He went on to tell Peter what kind of death awaited him and then he said- "Follow me". (John 21:15-18) I have read that part of scripture many times but today I really ponder the true meaning of following Christ. Jesus never hid the fact that following Him was "Hazardous".... no He always made statements like "For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it." or "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." Truly I tell you,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age: homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—along with persecutions—and in the age to come eternal life.
The call is though but the reward is matchless, that was why Paul could say- "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing" 2 Timothy 4:7-8.
The Lord Jesus is not looking for a fan club of individuals who are happy to be associated with Christ and call themselves Christians....We( self included) have become comfortable to go through everyday just doing the mundane things- wake up, eat,work,take care of the family,go on fancy holidays, look good for the neighbours, grow old.... but why then were we redeemed? What about the will of God? What about the mandate given to us by our Lord? Are we not supposed to be the "Salt" of the earth? Are we not called to " save others by snatching them from the fire"( Jude vs 23) I now know that is why Jesus said “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles? ’Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’
So this year am I willing to really carry my cross and follow Jesus, am I willing to be a true disciple, am I willing to lay down my life if the occasion arises? Am I going to let go of my self and let the will of God be done. Am I willing to face the loss of friends, family, reputation, career and possibly my life to follow Jesus?
Only if I willingly take up my cross may I be called His disciple(Luke 14:27).
Paul said- What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ( Phillipians 3:8)
I know God will give all who are willing the grace they need- To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy— to the only God our Saviour be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and for evermore! Amen.(Jude vs 24)
Have a blessed and purposeful New year in Jesus Name!
