Fan or Follower?

sports-fan

For several weeks, I have been thinking about how often we “play” at our Christian discipleship. We believe in Him, and we claim to be His, but do we actually follow Him? We are big fans of Jesus. We like what he does for us; we like that when we die we can go to heaven, but are we truly His disciples? If we are following Him we are living the way He would prescribe, we are following HIS steps.

In Mark 8:34, Jesus said,

…“If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.

This week I had the privilege of teaching a seminar on team building to a group of Community Ministries Directors from across Georgia. During the second day of the seminar I greatly enjoyed the presentation by Beth Ann Williams, Executive Director of the Woman’s Missionary Union of the Georgia Baptist Mission Board. As I continued to think about one of the handouts she shared, I am reminded I cannot follow Jesus until first I take up my cross and deny myself.

Read carefully the excerpt below from the handout Beth Ann gave us.

Living Sacrifice.jpg

Now read Galatians 2:20 and Romans 12:1.

Challenging isn’t it?

Are you merely a fan of Jesus, or are you ready to be a follower?

Jesus doesn’t call fans. He calls followers.

How to Be a Hall of Fame Disciple

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Former Atlanta Braves’ pitcher Greg Maddux recently received induction into the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY. A couple of quotes during his acceptance speech indicate the kind of focused worth ethic that earned him the nickname “Mad Dog.” Referring to his daily approach to the game Maddux said

I never gave a thought to the Hall of Fame as I was going through my career. My goal as a baseball player was very simple: All I wanted to do was try to get better for my next start.

Greg played parts of his last two seasons with the San Diego Padres. Even after winning more than 300 games and 4 Cy Young Awards (as the top pitcher yearly in his league), at the end of his stellar career, Maddux related that his pitching coach in San Diego taught him how to throw a change-up a different way. Imagine that… a coach who had a modest career of his own at best teaching a hall of famer how to pitch. To hammer home an important life lesson, Maddux commented:

Just goes to show that you no matter how old you are, you’re still looking to get better.

Get better for my next start. Looking to get better. These two statements should typify a follower of Jesus. Am I doing all I can to walk more closely with Jesus today than I did yesterday? Am I intentionally pursuing Christlikeness on a daily basis? Do I realize how much I still have to grow and that I have not arrived at perfection?

How do we engage this constant growth process? The Word of God and prayer are the two tools God has given us for that purpose.

We all, with unveiled faces, are looking as in a mirror at the glory of the Lord and are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory; this is from the Lord who is the Spirit. 2 Corinthians 3:18 (HCSB)

But be doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. Because if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man looking at his own face in a mirror. For he looks at himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. But the one who looks intently into the perfect law of freedom and perseveres in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but one who does good works—this person will be blessed in what he does. James 1:22-25 (HCSB)

If a hall of famer like Greg Maddux recognized the key to success in his sport was intentional daily improvement, how much more should we see the eternal importance of daily getting better and growing closer to Jesus? Establish the habit of getting better every day by gazing into God’s Word and allowing Him to transform you through His Word’s power. You will find yourself one day in Jesus’ hall of fame of disciples.

 

Greg Maddux speech quotes courtesy of Chicago Tribune online.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/chi-greg-maddux-speech-20140727-story.html#page=1

Shrinking Me

January is the most profitable month for fitness centers and other health related businesses. Many people flock to the gym to pursue their New Year’s resolution to rid themselves of the additions gained during the Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday seasons.

Truth be told, though, there needs to be a lot less of me. Not just in weight, but in actions, attitudes, affections. One verse weighing heavily on my heart already this year is a very simple one, yet very convicting:

“He must increase, but I must decrease.” – John 3:30

John’s disciples were beginning to feel a little threatened by Jesus’ new ministry that was on the rise. However, John had spent his entire ministry preparing for this time, and reminded his followers that now was the time for all of them to become Jesus’ followers. After all, it wasn’t about John, it was about Jesus.

I am still struggling to remind myself of a similar truth as well: it is not about Jim, it is about Jesus. If I am not careful, I fall into a deep “me” pit. I begin to view my life as if I am the central point.

These attitudes and all other selfish thoughts are as dangerous to the spiritual heart as cholesterol, triglycerides, and trans fats are to the physical heart. They weigh us down with excess spiritual fat and jeopardize our health.

The four most dangerous people in my life: I, me, my, and mine.

The fact remains – we cannot look inward and upward at the same time. How about you? Have you gotten spiritually fat and out shape from overindulgence in selfish pursuits and perspectives?

Resist the urge to be self-seeking, but rather seek nothing less than to please HIM with everything you do.

My New Year’s resolution for this year – MORE JESUS, less Jim. What about you?