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Understanding the
four primary focus of Jesus’ teachings from the Gospels provides anyone with
the means of following Jesus proactively. First, faith in Jesus and His words
is a must. Our faith in the goodness of God is confirmed after the crucifixion
overcame all the powers of death. We know, therefore, that God will be with us
always, even to the end of the age. Max Lucado stressed, “In our faith we
follow in someone's steps. In our faith, we leave footprints to guide others.
It's the principle of discipleship.”
Next, maintaining
hope in Jesus’ promises anchors our faith. Because of the resurrection, we have
confidence in the communion of saints — that those we love who have died live
on joyfully in the nearer presence of God. We have hope that we too are headed
for eternal life. One promise we can apply is hoping for His return: “I will
come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also” (John
14:3a). This promise is a clear message Charles Spurgeon wanted every believer
to remember: Our hope in Christ for the future is the mainspring and the
mainstay of our joy down here today.
Another principle
Jesus displayed is loving others as He did. The crucifixion is the ultimate
expression of God’s self-giving love for us. Jesus lays down his life for
strangers, for the sake of the world in general, giving up his own life in
exchange for ours. Dieter F. Uchtdorf emphasized, “Love is the measure of our
faith, the inspiration for our obedience, and the true altitude of our
discipleship.”
Lastly, applying
peace in all circumstances of life proves our faith in His ability to protect
us. Jesus illustrated the kind of peace we must wish for others especially our
enemies at the cross when He uttered forgiveness for them (Luke 23:34). Soren
Kierkegaard highlighted a key aspect of following Jesus:
Christ did not appoint professors, but
followers. If Christianity ... is not reduplicated in the life of the person
expounding it, then he does not expound Christianity, for Christianity is
a message about living and can only be expounded by being realized in men's
lives.
The bottom line of following Jesus remembers a powerful message from
Billy Graham, “When we come to Christ, we’re no longer the most important person
in the world to us; Christ is.” In answering the question, “What following
Jesus means today?” begins by following Jesus with a declaration of the mouth.
Next, following Jesus with a decision of the mind. And lastly, following Jesus
with a disposition of the heart focused on pleasing Jesus in all aspects of
one’s faith life. Remembering these things keeps us aligned as followers of
Jesus and as a witness to a fallen world.
Now more than ever, followers of Jesus must take the time in becoming
serious towards applying Jesus’ teaching for our Christian journey today until
He comes again for all of us.
Let’s talk again!
