God directs the steps of those who follow Jesus. 

Following Jesus requires a humble submission to allow Jesus to lead. There are two reasons we have a difficult time allowing Jesus to lead. First, we get ourselves in trouble when we try to get ahead of God’s timing. God may have an incredible plan for us in the near future. However, if we grow weary of waiting we can arrogantly jump in front of where God is leading and try to hurry the process along. 

Second, we get ourselves in trouble when we attempt to take another path apart from where Jesus is leading. On our journey with Jesus there are many distractions, opportunities, decisions, and temptations. If we are not fully submitted to the will and direction of Jesus then we can fix our eyes on something other than Jesus that will lead us astray. Your feet will follow the direction of your eyes. Whatever you fix your eyes on is where your heart and feet will go. 

 Some will conclude that following Jesus is restricting and burdensome. In one sense following Jesus does bring some restrictions on the paths that you will take in life. As Jesus establishes our steps He will keep us from taking irresponsible or painful pathways that will bring shame, guilt. However, I wouldn’t call these restrictions as “burdensome” but liberating. Following Jesus is what we were created to do. I can take pleasure in following the steps that Jesus has established for me because He created me for His purposes, not for my own, and that He is leading me towards a full life or joy and purpose (John 10:10). 

 God is better at establishing your steps than you. He has infinite wisdom and perfect goodness. He created you on purpose and for a purpose. Following His direction will lead you to a fullness and joy that only God can bring.

Live It: 

• Do you take pleasure in the way of the Lord?
• Are there steps of faith that God is leading you to take today?

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Every year at Thanksgiving our kitchen trash can will overflow with paper plates that were used during the meal. The trash can will overflow with cups, plates, and food scraps from our feast. One by one, our family will take their trash to the can, notice that the trash is full and needs to be taken out, turn our plate upside down, smash the trash into the can, and leave the overflowing trash for someone else to take out. Does this happen at your family gatherings? 

This small picture gives us a glimpse into our human nature – we are typically quick to see needs and slow to meet needs. We are quick to see the problems and issues around us. We notice inefficiencies. We see needs. We are frustrated with problems. But how quickly do we step in and meet those needs? 

The Bible is full of people who tried to avoid their responsibility.  

• Jonah – “I’ll go, just not where you want me to go.”
• The young rich ruler – “I’ll do anything for you Jesus, but I won’t do that one thing you asked me to do.”
• Religious leaders asked, “Who is my neighbor?” – Translation: “I’m ok with loving the people I already love and hating the people I hate.” 
• The disciples asked, “How many times should we forgive?” – Translation: “When can stop forgiving someone who has wronged me?”

[Read: Who Do You Say I Am? – Matthew 16:15]

In Romans 10 Paul shares that our ultimate responsibility is to know Jesus and to make Jesus known. This chapter contains one of the greatest passages about salvation and one of the greatest passages about missions and sharing our faith. At the core, Paul expresses the importance of knowing Jesus (faith/discipleship) and making Jesus known (evangelism).

To know Jesus is more than an intellectual understanding but an intimate relationship. To make Jesus known is more than yelling the name of Jesus in a crowded room, but helping people enter into a personal, intimate relationship with Jesus. 

God has gifted you and positioned you to make the name of Jesus known today. People are in desperate need of the goodness and grace of Jesus. Don’t avoid your responsibility to make Jesus known today. 

Live It: 

• How is your relationship with Jesus?
• Who needs to know the hope that is found in Jesus? How are you going to share that with him/her today? 

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What is redemption? 

Redemption is a legal term that refers to paying a ransom to release someone from a life of slavery. To act of redemption is to buy back or bring back. 

Sin has enslaved every human. Spiritual death and guilt has entrapped every person. Humanity is unable to break free of this bondage. On their own, no person is free from the penalty of sin. Romans 6:23 tells us that the “penalty of sin is death.” A reparation has to be made. Unable to remove the stain of sin on our own, humanity is in need of a redeemer who can pay the penalty of sin in order to bring us back to our intended state – holy, pure, and redeemed. 

Jesus, “according to the riches of his grace” has redeemed us back to a perfect legal standing with God through his death, burial, and resurrection. Redemption is only found in Jesus’ life, death, burial, and resurrection. Nothing else can liberate you from sin. 

• Jesus’ death brings us life. 
• Jesus’ sacrifice is our forgiveness. 
• Jesus’ blood is the reparation for our sins. 
• Jesus’ resurrection is the reason we have a new life and identity. 

Jesus lived the life that we are unable to live and died the death that we should have died so that we can have the life we don’t deserve. He is our only hope and access to God the Father. 

Live It: 

• Have you been hoping to find life outside of the life of Jesus? 
• How can you celebrate today that Jesus has redeemed you from your sinful state?

Do you recognize when you struggle with humility? 

Everyone struggles with submitting to the lordship of Jesus Christ – whether that struggle is with choosing sin over the way of Jesus or assuming that our knowledge is greater than Jesus’. Pride creeps into our lives when we begin to elevate our preferences, desires, or dreams above what Jesus has for us. 

Peter commands us to “humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God.”

Humbling ourselves under the mighty hand of God is easy work. How is submission easy work? Because God, in His infinite love and wisdom, is the perfect leader. 

• He lifts us high in the lowest valley.
• He gives grace upon grace. 
• His mercies are new everyday. 
• He will never forsake us. 
• He created our potential. 

God is worthy of our praise and worthy of our submission. Choosing to lay down our pride to humbly follow Jesus is the greatest decision you can make each day. Jesus said, “If anyone wants to follow after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.” (Matthew 16:24-26)

Few people will follow a fool for more than a short amount of time. Frustrations will settle in when you notice that the person that you are following isn’t compassionate, competent, admirable, or strong. It is difficult to follow someone who isn’t able to lead. 

This is not the case with God. God’s mighty hand protects, corrects, and guides His people. God is worthy of our praise and submission. 

Live It: 

• Is your desire to draw near to God? 
• Which area of life do you have the most pride? 
• How can you repent of that pride and humbly submit to God today? 

When I was growing up in church I would hear teachers talk about the courage and faith it takes to move across the planet to share the Gospel with others. I knew as a teenager that I was going to step into full-time ministry one day. So I assumed that one of the most difficult things that I would have to do was move to a new city, state, or country to share the Gospel. Being a pastor meant that I might have to move for the Gospel. 

As I began serving in ministry, I realized that waiting on God was more difficult than moving for God. I don’t want to downplay the difficulty of moving for God. God frequently asks us to take a stand, to step out of our comfort zones, or to take a leap of faith into the direction that He is leading. There are seasons of movement but there are also seasons of waiting. 

I use to think that moving for God would be the most difficult way to obey God but I’ve found that waiting on God proves more difficult for me. 

• Waiting requires trust. 
• Waiting requires humility. 
• Waiting requires holy anticipation. 
• Waiting requires relying solely on the provision of God.

Waiting requires continuing to be faithful with what God has for you today, while you wait for what God has for you tomorrow. 

• Imagine how David felt waiting returning to the pastures when he knew that he would one day be in the palace. 
• Imagine how Abram and Sari felt waiting to conceive a son. 
• Imagine how Joseph felt waiting to be honored while he was forgotten in a prison. 
• Imagine how Joshua and the Israelites felt showing up each day to march around the walls of Jericho without advancing their military. 

Our pride wants to jump ahead of God during seasons of waiting. However, we must faithfully follow Jesus, even in times of waiting. God is not absent. He will continue to lead you.

Stay faithful where you are as He prepares where you are going. 

Live It: 

• Are you in a season of waiting? 
• How can you remain faithful to Jesus while you are waiting on Jesus?

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Have you watched a documentary of African lions hunting in the wild? Their golden coat perfectly camouflage them to unsuspecting prey. Lions prowl around looking for an easy target – an animal that is alone, hurt, or tired. 

According to the Scriptures, the devil operates in a similar manner – prowling around looking for an easy target. Some of the worst decisions people make are when they are isolated, spiritually dry, or physically tired because they are susceptible to spiritual attacks. 

Isolation removes you from the encouragement and support of other Christians. We all need people who know us and point us to Jesus. Separating yourself from other Christians leaves you vulnerable. Spiritual dryness leads our minds and hearts to wander away from the goodness of Jesus. This wandering causes us to wonder if Jesus loves us, knows us, or has a plan for us. And when physical exhaustion sets in, we make choices based off of our comfort or need for rest instead of walking faithfully in the direction that Jesus is leading. 

Peter’s warning is for Jesus followers to “stay aware” and to “be sober-minded.” The devil knows he will lose the war but that won’t keep him from trying to strike you down. It is vitally important for each Christian to be in community, spiritually strong, and physically awake so that we can stand with Jesus. 

Live It: 

• Are you in a spot where you are isolated with no biblical community, spiritually dry, or physically exhausted? 
• How can you slow down your schedule and get the support you need from God’s Word and His people?

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