Monday Morning Musings ...

Yesterday was another very good day. We had a good time in worship and our attendance was outstanding. We had a carryin dinner after worship and then a wedding shower for a couple who is getting married on New Year's Eve. Then a couple of hours after that we began the decorating of the church and we had so many people come and help and the place is looking great. It was a long day, especially when I was battling a nasty cold, but it was a very good day.

I concluded, at least I think I concluded, the series of messages entitled "Not A Fan". It has been a very good series. I have been challenged so much in my study for this series and am extremely burdened for the people in our church to move from fans to followers of Christ in all areas of their lives.

This week we looked further into the meaning of being a follower of Christ and that to be a follower means that we follow 'no matter what'. We must be careful not to exchange personal interests for the sake of following Christ. Luke 9:23-24 has been our foundation in this series and we also examined Luke 9:57-62 and Psalms 106:19-20. To follow Jesus to do whatever he asks means that Jesus has top priority. Jesus is not looking for those with divided loyalties. What is dividing your attention with Jesus? This means letting go of everything else. Our total focus is to be Jesus and we can't do that if we are still gripping other things. What do you need to let go of so that you can hold onto Jesus? This means being exclusive with Jesus. No flirting with anything else. This means focusing forward. It is difficult to go forward while staring backward.

To really follow we must accept Christ's forgiveness. Jesus has invited you to follow with full knowledge of your past. Why are you still hung up on your past? Let God change you. Maybe the number one reason people have given me through the years for not following accepting Jesus has been that they want to clean themselves up first. They want to fix themselves then they will accept and follow Jesus. They are believing the lie that you must clean up your act before you can follow Jesus. Jesus has invited you to follow just as you are and then he will cleanse you and mold you into his image.

To follow means taking some action. Following is not passive, it is active. Following is not a spectating it is acting. It is not enough to think about it, learn about it and sing about it, you must actually follow with your life. Why not now? What are you waiting on? What are you still trying to understand? What are you still trying to fix. Why not now?

Fan or follower? Which one describes you today?