As a Christian, we are called to be His disciples. To be a disciple means to not just learn the ways of Christ, but to follow His ways. Being His disciple requires that we deny ourselves the ways of the world and take up the challenges around us with full faith in His leadership. In this way we must recognize that we are not in control of our lives. Rather we must consciously know that He is in control and give that control over to Him. He will never make us relinquish control. It is only when we let go of the reins that we will experience the fullness that our life offers. Embracing the difficulties and challenges that inevitably come, and moving forward regardless is how we show we do not value our lives above God’s presence. This is when we will know what it means to have Him intercede on our behalf at every turn. Our souls will be firmly planted in the Spirit, yearning for the prize of heaven ahead.
Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?
Matthew 16:24-26 NIV
The call on all our lives is to be a servant to one another above getting and doing for ourselves. Christ came to earth with low status, but could have easily come to earth as a king. He did this for a reason. He did this to show each of us by example how we are to carry ourselves in this life. We are not entitled to anything. We are called to serve. It is through our acts of service that we show the light of God to others. This is how we lay our lives down so that we may pick them up. We do not hold ourselves above anyone. Instead, we can keep our eyes on the Father and be directed each day on how to serve rather than to take. Taking is the world’s way to self preserve and protect. When we leave God to the preserving and protecting our energies are freed up to care for those around us. In this way we, “will not taste death before [we] see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom.”
For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done. “Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”
Matthew 16:27-28 NIV
Considerations for your planner:
- What is the leader of your life? Take a moment to write down what helps you make decisions.
- How do you lead with service each day? Write it down and consider how you can lead with service more often.
A Story of Following Christ:
Being led by emotions is the example I saw most of my life. I knew that being led in this way was not productive. However, I would often look to the world to validate me and how I reacted in situations. Oftentimes, without thought or concern for how it would affect me or the other people involved.
It was around college that I was led to a therapist to get a handle on how I processed my emotions so that I wasn’t just a timebomb waiting to go off. I started to seek therapy and began to talk through why my emotions had so much power over me. I would rationalize how I felt and that would justify my actions. Still I would make the same poor decisions, being led by my emotions, over and over again.
In my mid twenties, married and with my first child I had an affair. Again I led with my emotions. It took me almost losing everything to realize rationalization wasn’t going to help me and that I needed to bring my life to God. This came after my husband told me I was worth fighting for and that he deserved me. I began to seek God over all else. Following God has quieted my emotions so that I can hear His voice over being led by them.
- Anonymous
Strengthen the Christian Planner Family by sharing your experiences. We'd love to hear a story about God's work in your life. Use the form linked below to submit your story.
