[This reflection by Dazz Jones was published in the weekly news bulletin of Horley Baptist Church, 01/Oct/2023]
In a world filled with distractions and competing ideologies, the call to follow Jesus Christ remains central to Christianity. But what does it truly mean to follow Jesus? How can we orient our lives and purpose around the Kingdom of God? In this article, we will explore the essence of following Jesus and provide practical guidance on how to align our lives with the values and principles of His Kingdom.
Walk the Talk: To follow Jesus means to immerse ourselves in His teachings found in the Gospels. Jesus’ words offer profound wisdom, love, and guidance for living a life that honours God and serves others. His teachings emphasize love, forgiveness, humility, and selflessness. As followers of Jesus, we should strive to embody these virtues in our daily lives not just talk about them.
Relationship not Religion: Adding to the previous point, following Jesus is not merely a practice something we do; it’s so much more, it’s who we know. Christianity is about cultivating a deep and personal relationship with God. This relationship is likely to be built best on prayer, Scripture reading, and communion with God through the Holy Spirit. Regular prayer, worship, reading and meditating on the words of the Bible will help us know His will, understand his character and grow closer to Him.
Others over own: One of the central messages of Jesus is love – love for God and love for our neighbours. To follow Jesus means to extend love and compassion to everyone we encounter, just as He did. To put the needs of others before our own. This love is not limited to those who share our faith but encompasses all people, regardless of their background, beliefs, race, religion, creed, gender, sexuality or circumstances.
Seek first the Kingdom of God: In a self-proclaiming, Instagram boasting, achievement-hunting culture; to orient our lives around the Kingdom of God, we’ll need to work hard to prioritize its values and principles above all else. This means seeking God’s righteousness, justice, and peace in every decision we make regardless of the impact on our circumstances and reputation. It involves aligning our ambitions, goals, and aspirations with the overarching purpose of advancing God’s Kingdom on Earth.
Embrace Forgiveness, even when it’s spiky: Forgiveness is at the heart of the Christian faith. Jesus taught us to forgive as we have been forgiven. To follow Him means extending forgiveness to those who have wronged us, letting go of bitterness, and reconciling with others. This can seem like we’re being asked to hug a cactus … which is never impossible but depending on what happened in the past might need to be done very slowly and very gently.
Do you want to talk about it?: Part of following Jesus is sharing the good news of His love and salvation with others. We are called to be witnesses, spreading the message of hope and redemption to a world in need. Talking to people about your life and the difference God makes in your overall experience and thought processes can be a very powerful way to share faith.
To follow Jesus is a lifelong journey of faith, love, and service. By embracing His teachings, cultivating a relationship with Him, and living out His love and compassion, we can truly follow Jesus and be a light in a world that needs His transformative grace and truth.
Resources:
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Last week’s reflection: Celebrating The Harvest by Helen Ruffhead
Contributed by Dazz Jones; © the Author
