Follower part 4
I don't want a rigid path where I have to step here, here, and here or else. And, listen, I'm NOT talking about Matthew 7:14, "Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it." Because according to John 14:6, "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." Did you catch that? Narrow is the way because only JESUS is the way! Not following IN His foot steps (which is impossible anyway) but letting HIM make His own foot steps with our feet! Presenting our bodies as a LIVING sacrifice so He can live in us, and through us, and as us. Being a "follower of Christ" doesn't mean trying to act like Jesus. It means walking in love. Walking by faith and not by sight. And I like to mention this every chance I get so I'll mention it here and now: It's not walking anything OUT. I hear that term a lot too. "Walk it out." As if we could walk it out in our own power. It's not by might, nor by power, but by the Spirit of God. Look at Isaiah 30:21, "And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left." That voice behind you (because it's a finished work. Remember on the isle of Patmos John heard a great voice, as of a trumpet, coming from behind him) is the Word of God. Jesus. Love. And while I said earlier I don't want a rigid path with strict rules, correction is a good thing. Especially when you start to lose your way. When you STOP walking in love, if I can say it that way. When you let what's outside start to dictate to what's inside. That's not how it works. The inside defines the outside. Always. What's inside is what comes out. Or rather, what you BELIEVE is inside comes out. The gate is straight. The way is narrow. But not because you'll get punished if you step off it. But because there's only one way (LOVE) to stay on it! And, again, it's not by might or power. It's not by walking it OUT. It's by walking IN it. Walking IN love. Walking by faith, because faith works by love. It's all about love. Being a disciple is being an everlasting life-long student of love. Learning to love by learning how God loves us. Being a follower of Christ is walking in love. Wherever you go. Not having a path in the sense of, "Go here or else." Not trying to follow in Jesus' foot steps and act like Him. All that will ever get is frustration, because all that will ever be is an act. It's not about having a path. It's about having a way. A more excellent way. Before the early church was called Christians they were simply called followers of the way. And what's the more excellent way? Love! What's the "path" that we follow? Loving people wherever we're at and wherever we go. Sometimes I liken it to being a thermostat instead of a thermometer. SETTING the temperature instead of just taking the temperature. Affecting those around you, not by trying to emulate what Jesus physically did when He physically walked the earth, but by doing what YOU can do as YOU physically walk the earth. Touching the people you come into contact with and leaving them better than you found them. Because you're sharing what you've got. Giving them what they need. Walking in love. Loving people. In that unique way that only YOU can love them. You can touch certain people in certain ways. And that's all you're called to do. Receive and release the love of God into everyone you come into contact with. Do what you can, where you're at, with what you've got. That's a follower of Christ!