Sometimes we might act strangely and get an odd look from others. It would be hard to always feel like ‘the strange one.’
As Christians, though, we are to be strange – not like those of the world (John 17:14-16).
We are to walk by faith, looking forward to our heavenly home for eternity and remembering that we do not belong to the earthly culture. We are to be set apart from the ways of the world.
Submitting to Jesus is done by giving up our ways to take on his. About following Jesus, the apostle John straightforwardly stated, “We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands… Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did” (1 John 2:3,6 NIV). To know how Jesus lived requires studying him, his words, and his ways. Then, we can mature in our faith by the work of the Holy Spirit.
Our faith will wither when it is not applied. The muscles of our faith will weaken if they are not used. The eyes of our faith will deteriorate if they are not focused. The feet of our faith will stumble if they are not firmly planted. The heart of our faith will harden if it becomes self-centered.
Working out our faith entails effort in following our leader, Jesus. We need to choose to learn from him and follow him, as his original disciples did.
Sometimes people choose to hop on what they see as the bandwagon of Christianity. Perhaps it’s done by pressure or being caught up in emotional moments. Oftentimes, these wagon riders either fall off, get dragged off, or sneak off at some point. They didn’t understand what they were getting into – that it takes commitment and sacrifice.
Jesus told people to count the cost of following him. After describing how situations like building a tower or going to war take planning and consideration of the endeavor, Jesus said, “In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples” (Luke 14:33 NIV). That is a big expectation! We must give up our life and replace it with Christ himself. We don’t serve an idea, but the Son of God – who is the Lamb of God, the only way to know God. He is “the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word” (Hebrews 1:3a NIV).
Identifying with Christ cannot be taken lightly.
We need to invest in studying God’s Word to learn how to follow Jesus in our daily life as we live amidst others and in the situations he places us.
As the apostle Peter encouraged, “You ought to conduct yourselves in holiness and godliness as you anticipate and hasten the coming of the day of God” (2 Peter 3:11b-12a NIV). Remember that as believers, we are strangers passing through on our way to our eternal home.
Put this into practice as you grow in godliness through a Heart Training book!