My rambling

As I look the debates of the day over sexual orientation, faith, race, etc, and it is mostly coming from people who say they are believers. I struggle, I sit back in amazement, and mull over the audacity of our arrogance. We seem to pick and choose what in the holy script, inspired word of God, the bible, is applicable to us, me. If we really read the bible, we would see the worse of worse, and the best of the best.

 We ostracized, when we should tryto find a way in, to win souls toward God. Yet, we seemed to be willing to be best known for our negative position, rather than our godly disposition. We are willing to fight, go to war, and live in enmity, than to cross the line to reach in toward another to teach one because he or she does not meet up to our expectations. The question I have is – who are we to put up a standard, when we ourselves have fallen short, and each day we fall shorter as we build our lives on a foundation riddle with self-doubt, veneer beautiful covering a narcissistic, self-involved spirit. Where we cannot reach beyond what we see, what we have been taught, or what we feel, because it challenges who we are as a person, or it means people will questioned my truth. See, we don’t get it, light drives out darkness in a room, and in a heart. The question is not whether we should let others who are different than us, whether it is SGL or another faith, it whether we are willing to  do what God has commissioned every person  who are followers of Christ to do – John 13:34-35-  “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.  By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (NIV).

The simple fact is, we can’t because there is no room in our world or word to release us. We are not sold out to Christ.  See when you are sold out to someone or something. No one changes you, ask any sold out Dallas Cowboy or Houston Texans or Chicago bull, or Boston Red Sox fans. Come hell or high water, they are not moved. Yet, us Christian, we stop short of giving all when it come to the Father's will which is not our way or on our agenda of right. See, when you love there is no room for hate, there is no room for pointing fingers because if the truth be told your biblical belief stand is found more on your personal preferences, upbringing, and fear of the unknown, more than it does on God’s word. See the lion and the lamb can sit together, and if they are taught from babes…wink….God is great, and amazingly awesome.

So, I petition God to give me the wisdom to see beyond my visible eyes to embrace His spiritual wonderment and truths. And though no one go with me, I will follow… How about you…John 20:29 - Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” NIV

'Follow me'

Matthew 4:19 - And he said unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men (KJV)

I heard this sermon about baptism this past weekend, but the thing that stuck with me was the ‘follow me’ statement quoted from the bible in the verse above. ‘Follow me’ two words which means a lot more than we think. When you tell someone, you will follow them, it does not mean if all my friends go, it’s popular, and/or it will make me part of the new trending ‘thing’. When you commit to follow, you go when no one else goes; you go when it is not popular, and when it gets you no cool points. However, it is not a decision you make because an emotional high, where you felt good because there will come a time when the high is gone. Follow me is a commitment to go, because it represents an outward expression of an internal compass drawing you to a truth within you.

I don’t believe Christ meant for his words ‘follow me’ to result in an identification of a group who would not work for Him, or without furthering the agenda of the Father. For the rest of the verse speaks of making you do something. It does not speak of just being, but also doing. See, when we commit to following Christ it not something you can hand down through generations and generations, it is a personal choice; we all must make. The only thing that can be handed down like an heirloom is the teaching of righteousness through our living, giving, and being. How we live everyday in real time day-to-day, owning our imperfections. Where we show our truth, the willingness to forgive others of wrong doing, and the heart to walk away without keeping bitterness, disappointment, and hurt as souvenirs of the many battles encountered at different interactions. Christ teaches, and taught us after fallen, forgiveness follows because it frees. Follow me is the relinquishing of fears and doubts, and walking in the promise of the inheritance of the blessings of Abraham.

‘Follow me’ is the awareness of what is important to the Father, is important to me, and I will pursue it though no one comes with me. Following Christ is a solitary decision resulting resulting in a group association but all still have freewill to do, or not to do; our choice. It is not considered groupthink, but rather God-focus.