We have just finished celebrating the most significant day in history, Resurrection Sunday. The church going, family gathering, dressing up and egg hunting is over. Today I call your attention to what is a more personally significant day. I call it Make Up Your Mind Monday. It might not be literally Monday. It begins, actually, the day after you come to the realization that Jesus came, died, rose and will return one day. That realization prompts a decision, a response, so what?
All that Jesus did makes no difference unless we incorporate it. I saw a lot of joyful responses to what Jesus did yesterday. It’s great to be appreciative and thankful. It’s not, however, what Jesus asks. His requested response is at once simple and comprehensive: Follow me. It’s not just to “accept him” or call ourselves “a Christian.” It’s not being just being baptized or joining a church or going “up front” at a church service.
It’s following. Following isn’t a one time thing. It’s not something we can check off a list and be done with. It’s a continuing process. It’s not something that can be compartmentalized to one day a week or prioritized anything other than first. It’s trusting Him to take us where we need to go and to do with us as He wills. Frankly, I don’t see a lot of following going on. I have looked around a lot, including in the mirror. I just don’t see it.
Following Jesus is something that should be easy to spot. Face it we are a world of followers. Most of us dress like, think like, act like and try to look like the folks on television. Following Jesus means having the mind of Christ and acting on it. Luckily we don’t have to dress like Him or look like Him. We do have to think like Him and act like Him.
How did He think and act? Single mindedly. He was focused on what the Father asked Him to do. He stayed focused by spending time with His Father in prayer. Every step was in the direction the Father pointed.
Following Him is simple. It’s just not easy. We better stop putting it off and make up our minds.
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