What to do before U Exit

Archive for the ‘Christian vs. Christ Follower’ Category

As we view the video above, although funny, it is actually true. Many times we can give the appearance of being a christian, we have all the “Right things” we have a leather bound bible, King James Version, we have read all the latest christian books, and we listen to all he christian music and can recite all the lyrics by heart, but these things while wonderful do not make a person a Christ Follower. Many times people profess to be Christian, or that they believe in God but they do not even know what it means to be a Christ follower or even have an understanding of a relationship with God.

 If we look to the scriptures in Mark chapter 5 Jesus comes upon a demon possessed man, and here is what it says

 When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees in front of him.He shouted at the top of his voice, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? Swear to God that you won’t torture me!” For Jesus had said to him, “Come out of this man, you evil spirit!” Then Jesus asked him, “What is your name?”  ”My name is Legion,” he replied, “for we are many.” And he begged Jesus again and again not to send them out of the area.

 You see even here these demons identified who Jesus is, and they even called him “Son of the most High God” you see these demons believed in Jesus, but yet they are not Christ followers.

 So you ask, “What is a Christ follower?” Simple, it is a person who is spending time learning the examples Jesus gave in his own life, and is following them and working to implement them.  But don’t over complicate this, start simple, here is a good task to start the journey. Today spend 10 minutes reading the bible. Start in the book of Matthew. Every day spend 10 minutes and pick up where you left off. Do that for a week and we will talk in the next part of this series about the simple steps you take to becoming a Christ Follower.

This is another funny video, but I want you to think about something that was said, did you catch when the Christ follower said “It is all integrated” I want you to think about that statement for a moment. Because to be a Christ follower Christ must be integrated into your life. The steps you are taking with reading your bible 10 minutes every day is a critical part of getting him integrated into your life. Lets take a look at some scripture, Please look at Matthew 7:24-27 it says

 24″Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”

 Jesus was even telling us, that just hearing was not enough, we must work to practice the examples he gave us. If we don’t, then the ways of sin will rule us. this is not a healthy way to live in any sense. It is so important to follow the examples of Christ, so many times we can become consumed with what I like to call the junk.

 Having a Hard drive filled with christian stuff, bible software that is the latest and greatest, a car covered in Christian bumper-stickers, does not make a person a Christ follower. We may look great on the outside, but on the inside thats a whole different story, inside we feel lost, hurt, confused or even angry. But the only way to have Christ in us is to spend the time to know Christ.

 In the last posting I asked you to spend 10 minutes a day reading God’s word. I am very proud of you for committing yourself to doing this. Here is something new I want you to do, as you are reading I want you to write down anything that jumps out at you or sparks your interest. Many times while reading the Bible, God will speak to us in our hearts, and when this happens it helps to write them down. Keep reading and start jotting things down, because In the next lesson, I will explain why it is important to write these things down.

These are great videos, and so true as well. Many times people spend so much time on the illusion of a Christ follower, but on the inside they are hurting, angry, lost, confused. Having that outer appearence is important, but not if the inside does not have the same. Let’s take a look at some scripture Let’s look at Matthew 23:27 -

 27″Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men’s bones and everything unclean.

 Christs heart breaks because he wants to impact you not just on the inside but also on the outside. He wants to completley fill you with him. But take a moment to look at Pslams 19:7-9

 7-9 The revelation of God is whole and pulls our lives together. The signposts of God are clear and point out the right road. The life-maps of God are right, showing the way to joy. The directions of God are plain and easy on the eyes. God’s reputation is twenty-four-carat gold, with a lifetime guarantee. The decisions of God are accurate down to the nth degree.

 You see God wants to show you the way, and the directions are in his word.

 But in order to see the directions we have to be willing to do 2 things,

 1 We must spend time in the word of God. This critical

 2 We must be willing to submit ourselves to God.

 This is how simple it really is . Keep spending time in the Word you are doing GREAT!!!