What does it mean to be a follower of Jesus--
To live a life of self-denial, to walk as He walked,
To have a heart burden for the salvation of others,
To show love and compassion, and to talk as He talked?
Before we can truly answer this profound question
We need to find out who Jesus was and what He taught
From the Holy Scriptures and then allow these principles
To be weaved into our being by the Holy Spirit of God.
"Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth?"
This question from Nathaniel depicted the wickedness
And moral depravity prevalent in the little town where
Quietly abode Jesus Christ the Lord our Righteousness.
He was keenly aware of the corruption around him
But He did not hold peace marches or rallies to make known
His agenda to a people who were under the Roman yoke;
He did not try to change the system or push for social reforms.
Jesus did not conform one iota to the ways of the world,
He recognized human government as divinely ordained;
It was right to render unto Caesar that which were Caesar's.
When in conflict, He taught obedience to God rather than men.
He did not seek the admiration or applause of men,
He did not claim a position among the leaders of the nations
Nor did he court the favor of the honored of the world;
He set at nought and ignored society's class distinctions.
He ate with publicans, sinners, and the common people
So that He would by precept and example present to them
Right principles and to uplift them from their debasement
And direct their minds above to the Kingdom of Heaven.
When the people wanted Him to be King over them
He quietly withdrew from the scene - The lessons He taught
Had always been that His Kingdom is not of this world;
To enter His Kingdom a reform from within needs to be wrought.
A change in the heart wrought by the Spirit of God
Generates in the believers a genuine love for their fellowmen
And a desire to follow closely in the Master's footsteps--
To gladly bear the cross, to suffer and to endure to the end.
To His followers, Christ's religion means more than talk,
His righteousness consists of good works and right actions
Toward others that come solely from pure unselfish motives,
Abounding in honesty and purity in all social relations.
Genuine faith and strength come by following in His steps,
The believers' lives of self-denial and self-sacrifice
Are apparent and others take knowledge that they have been
With and have learned from their Saviour Jesus Christ.
The grace of Christ brings wonderful transformation
In the lives and characters of the true disciples of the Lord;
Others see the effects of divine power attending His people
For while they are in the world they are not of the world.
In everything they do, they give all the glory to God,
They are obedient and faithful, manifesting in their lives
The true and enduring principles of heavenly origin;
They are citizens, representatives of the Kingdom on High.
As with the disciples of old, they are weighted down
With the burden for souls and their one desire in life
Is the proclamation of the Gospel to the ends of the earth
That others might find their way to the Kingdom of Christ.
Jesus didn't force His views upon an unreceptive crowd,
He didn't push for moral legislation to make wicked people true;
His truths, if believed through faith, transform the character
And the believers inevitably do what Jesus would do.
Does this mean if every Christian does what Jesus did
The world would be transformed to love the things of God?
No, friend, the world is on the broad way that leads to perdition;
The narrow path is where you'd find God's little flock.
Copyrighted © Lydia Haga 2004
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Jesus, I My Cross Have Taken Midi
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