“And he said, ‘Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.’ And he said to him, ‘Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.’” – Luke 23:42-43

As followers of Jesus, it’s important to take all the implications and applications of a life transformed by Jesus Christ seriously. There are many things we must strive to do in imitation and obedience to our Lord and Savior. Unfortunately, sometimes focusing on these things can confuse us about the source of our salvation. We aren’t saved by doing those things. We do those things because we’ve been saved.

The story of Jesus’ neighbor at the crucifixion is a helpful reminder of how anyone gets saved. That criminal began his time on the cross by mocking Jesus but by the end, he was a believer. He recognized that while he was a sinner being justly executed for his crimes, Jesus was sinless. He put his faith and trust in Jesus Christ as Lord and that was all that was necessary for salvation. He didn’t climb off the cross, get baptized, and climb back onto the cross. He didn’t hop off, do countless good deeds, and then hop back on. No. He believed and was justified as a gift of God’s grace given through faith in Jesus Christ. “Today you will be with me in paradise.”

There is only one way to be saved, no matter where you are or what your situation when it happens… Faith in Jesus Christ. Salvation isn’t a matter of “Jesus + _____”. Jesus is everything! Believe and be saved by grace and not by works so you have nothing to boast about.

Of course, if you’re truly saved, then you’re new creation in Christ. You’ve been raised to new spiritual life, united with Christ, and sealed by the Holy Spirit. For those who aren’t actively dying on a cross when they get saved, this new reality has implications and applications. Every new believer should be baptized as an act of obedience. Every believer should seek to live a radically transformed life imitating Jesus by loving God and neighbors. But those things don’t save you. They reflect and demonstrate that you’ve been saved. These activities don’t earn grace, they reflect the undeserved grace that is overflowing in your life. Always remember and give thanks for how you’ve been saved as you #FollowJesus

“And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split.” – Matthew 27:51

When Jesus died on the cross, the effects were quite dramatic. A powerful earthquake shook the ground and rocks split open, visible evidence of God’s power at work. More significant, the massive curtain inside the temple in Jerusalem split from top to bottom. This wasn’t a random side effect – this was profoundly meaningful. This heavy woven curtain separated the holy place from the most holy place (or holy of holies) within the temple. The curtain existed to protect people, particularly the priests, from God’s presence. Simply put, God is so holy that His presence was dangerous to human beings, even the dedicated priests who served the Lord.

However, when Jesus Christ, the Son of God died, that changed. Jesus died to reconcile mankind, in our sinful rebellion, with our holy God. Jesus died so that we would no longer need to be protected from God’s presence. Jesus died and rose from the dead so that everyone who trusts in Him for salvation actually becomes a temple themself. Those who are in Christ have been made holy. We have been given Christ’s righteousness. And we become a temple of God’s Holy Spirit Who seals us and lives in us.

There is no more separation from God for those who are in Christ! We are united with God the Son and indwelt by God the Spirit. We don’t need to be protected from God’s presence and we don’t need to avoid it. Indeed, we are welcomed into it as adopted children of God the Father. The curtain became obsolete when Jesus died. The temple in Jerusalem became obsolete when Jesus died as the once-for-all-sacrifice for our sins. Now, we don’t need to fear God’s presence. We don’t need to keep God at a safe distance.

And yet, we often continue to live like we do. Christians often try to keep their distance from God rather than abiding in, delighting in, and living in the new reality that WE are each, individually and collectively the temple of God. We quench the Spirit and chase every fleshly thing to avoid genuinely walking in step with the Holy Spirit and in the Spirit’s power. We fear the power of the Holy Spirit living in us. If this describes you, just stop! Stop trying to escape God’s presence. Stop trying to keep God at a safe distance. Stop trying to re-hang the curtain!

Lean into your relationship with Jesus. Abide in Him. Spend more time in prayer and meditation on Scripture. Delight in God. Rely on God. Don’t try to hide from God. #FollowJesus

“No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.” – John 15:15

In the United States, today is the day we honor all who have worn the uniform and served this nation honorably. Thank you for your service and for the sacrifices you made in that service!

The virtues of service and sacrifice resonate with followers of Jesus, because our Lord did both. Jesus came not to be served but to serve. Jesus came to make the ultimate sacrifice for us on the cross. For those who’ve entrusted their lives to Jesus, we’re also called to serve and sacrifice.

However, Jesus calls us to something even deeper and more beautiful… friendship. Jesus has revealed truth to us. He has revealed His will and plans to us. He has loved us to the end. Jesus has invited us to serve Him not out of fear or guilt but as His beloved friends. The service and sacrifice that flows out of friendship with the Lord is joyful, powerful, and world-changing. On a day devoted to honoring service and sacrifice, take time to reflect on how you are serving and sacrificing for your friend, Jesus. #FollowJesus

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” – John 13:34-35

This is incredibly simple and unbelievably important. Love one another. This isn’t a suggestion. It’s a command from Jesus to everyone who claims to follow Him. We must love each other. We must love one another just like Jesus has loved us – at terrible personal cost, regardless of whether the other deserves it. That’s how Jesus loved you. That’s how you are to love other believers.

We MUST get this right, because Jesus said this is the way unbelievers in the world will know that we’re truly disciples of Jesus. This is to be our proof of membership in the body of Christ. It is our lived out testimony that everything about Jesus is true. THIS…. The way we love one another.

We’re not very good at this are we? We prefer to be right. We prefer to get our way. We prefer many things. But this is what our Master commanded, so our preferences don’t matter! Jesus didn’t say that our buildings would be the way unbelievers would know we were disciples. Jesus didn’t say our loud politics would be the way unbelievers would recognize us. He didn’t say our absolute, perfectly precise doctrinal accuracy would be the way unbelievers would know we were truly changed by Jesus. None of the things we like to fight with each other about made the list. Neither did any of the ways we like to condemn the world.

Just this: love one another. If you can do this, the world will know that you’re a disciples of Jesus. If we can do this, the world will know that Jesus is truly our Lord. #FollowJesus

“Peter answered him, ‘Though they all fall away because of you, I will never fall away.’” – Matthew 26:33

Peter had the same sort of brash resolve that many of us can have when things are safe. He could talk a good game, just as we can sometimes talk a good game, whether in public or just to ourselves. He wanted to sound good and impress Jesus with his courageous words. Sometimes we can do the same. However, Jesus knew that Peter’s courage would crumble the moment the crisis came. There was no real courage behind Peter’s brave words.

This wasn’t surprising. After all, Peter had not yet witnessed the Resurrection of Jesus. As far as he knew, death was still the end. Peter didn’t yet understand the truth of Christ’s eternal Kingdom, so he focused on surviving in the here and now. And Peter had not yet received the Holy Spirit. So, of course, Peter’s courage crumbled when faced with the prospect of his own arrest and suffering.

Nonetheless, on the other side of the Cross, the Resurrection, and the Holy Spirit, Peter became genuinely courageous. He didn’t have to say brave things because he lived a courageous life. Everything changed for Peter because he understand what was real, what was eternal, and what was genuinely important.

If you’re a believer in Jesus, you have all the things Peter had. You know about the Resurrection and your forever future in Christ. You have the Holy Spirit. The question is whether you’ve taken these truths to heart so that you will live with the boldness the Spirit can give you. How is your courage? Is it mostly words or a way of life? Regularly meditate on the death and resurrection of Jesus. Contemplate what that means for your present and future life. Reflect on your eternal inheritance in Heaven. Nurture, rather than quench, the Holy Spirit Who lives in you. Let Him fill you with the courage and boldness to #FollowJesus wherever He leads.