IT'S NOT WARM WHEN JESUS IS AWAY
"Anyone who wants to serve me must follow me, because my servants must be where I am. And the Father will honor anyone who serves me."
John 12:26 (NLT)
Follow me. These were the two words Jesus said to His disciples. His disciples didn't know where they were going. They just decided to follow Jesus. Our walk with Christ is like that today. Jesus says to go somewhere or to do something, only for us to question where He's taking us. When Jesus says to follow Him, He means for us to walk with Him day by day and minute by minute to experience a satisfying and transformative life. He wants us to be renewed in our thinking by replacing worldly thoughts with His Word. Following Jesus is essential, and without Him life can feel empty, confusing, cold and lonely.
Growing up, our parents guided us the best they could, and we followed them because we trusted them. If they told us, come here, then we went to them. If we were walking around a store, we followed them every step of the way. Have you ever experienced a time as a child when you lost track of your parents? You may have felt worried, confused and felt a sense of coldness. You looked around, and there was no parent in sight. The coldness begins to grow as the feeling of abandonment kicks in. Then suddenly, you find them, they welcome you with open arms, and the coldness turns to warmth. All is well. The same goes for our relationship with Jesus. When we first start the Christian journey, we may not know what it feels like to be loved unconditionally and never forsaken. In His warmth, our emptiness becomes full of His love. The brokenness is healed layer by layer, and our souls begin to feel satisfied.
You are following something or somebody. If you're not wholeheartedly following Jesus, can I ask you to surrender and let Him come close to your heart? His love and comfort are like the feeling of a crackling fireplace on a cold winter night. Comforting. Soothing. Warm.
APPLICATION: What's one habit or belief that you need to let go of today to follow Jesus more closely? Ask Jesus to point this out to you and let go of the old ways today.
PRAYER: Lord, You are our shepherd who can be trusted with the details of our lives. Help us to let go of doubts and worry when You ask us to do something. Guide us in Your will for our lives. Amen.
"… Our Father in heaven…" Matthew 6:9b (NLT)
• What do You want to say to me today as my Father?
"… may your name be kept holy." Matthew 6:9c (NLT)
• What do You want to reveal to me about Your power today?
"May your Kingdom come soon." Matthew 6:10a (NLT)
• Help me make Your priorities my priorities today.
"Give us today the food we need," Matthew 6:11 (NLT)
• Is there anything specific You want me to do with my time or the people I'm around today?
"and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us" Matthew 6:12 (NLT)
• Reveal to me anyone I need to forgive or ask for forgiveness.
"And don’t let us yield to temptation…" Matthew 6:13a (NLT)
• Is there anywhere I'm vulnerable to temptation?