“And I said, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ And the Lord said, ‘I am Jesus whom you are persecuting.’” – Acts 26:15

Before Saul (Paul) met Jesus on the road to Damascus, he was 100% certain he was serving the Lord. He was also 100% wrong. He was, in fact, fighting the Lord. Saul knew SO much and yet missed everything. He knew the Old Testament inside and out but completely missed how it all pointed to Jesus. His mind was razor sharp but his heart was hard as a rock and his spirit failed to see God at work all around him. Saul was confident he loved the Lord more than just about anyone, but completely missed the ultimate expression of God’s love in sending His Son into the world.

Can that happen today? Absolutely. We may immediately think of radical adherents of other faiths who wrongly believe they’re honoring God by persecuting Christians. They are a prime example. However the reality is that Christians can also find themselves acting like Saul before he met Jesus. We can know a lot of Scripture and doctrine while completely missing the heart of Jesus. We can know the facts but fail to walk in the Spirit. We can think we’re defending the faith while speaking and acting in ways that utterly dishonor Christ.

Jesus was very clear that a day would come when many people would cry out to Him, presenting their Christian credentials, and explaining all they’d done in His name. But they never knew Him and will forever remain outside His kingdom. Despite their Christian knowledge and impressive accomplishments. Be very careful that you don’t end up merely knowing about Jesus. Know Him! Love Him and keep falling more deeply in love with Him. Take seriously what He taught and commanded. Don’t make excuses for why His hardest teachings don’t apply to you. Instead, prayerfully seek to speak His love, show His grace, practice His mercy, hold firmly to His patience, and value His justice. Care about what and who Jesus cares out: the lost, the least, the outcast, the suffering, the vulnerable, the hopeless. #FollowJesus

“‘Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or dismayed before the king of Assyria and all the horde that is with him, for there are more with us than with him. With him is an arm of flesh, but with us is the Lord our God, to help us and to fight our battles.’ And the people took confidence from the words of Hezekiah king of Judah.” – 2 Chronicles 32:7-8

You’re never outnumbered when you’re on God’s side. That’s a simple biblical, spiritual, and practical truth. God will accomplish His purpose and will. If you’re tightly aligned with His will, then you’re on the right side of any situation, no matter how difficult or overwhelming. So, seek the Lord and always endeavor to keep in step with Him. Draw near to Him and stay close.

Avoid the common practice of asking God to bless your will. Instead, devote yourself to discerning and obeying His will. You will be blessed, that’s a certainty. Study the Scriptures. Devote more time to prayer and meditation than to fear or fretting.. Be intentional to follow Jesus rather than hoping He’ll follow you.

If you discover that you’ve run ahead, fallen behind, or drifted away from God’s will, don’t hesitate to do what you must to get back into it. No matter how embarrassing or costly it may feel in the moment. No matter who might be disappointed, angry, or upset by your move back toward the Lord. Staying out of God’s will because of pride or earthly cost will only prove more costly and embarrassing over time. Be strong and courageous. #FollowJesus

“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me,
because the Lord has anointed me
to bring good news to the poor;
he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives,
and the opening of the prison to those who are bound;”
– Isaiah 61:1

Jesus was very clear that these words were fulfilled in Him. So take time to think about them carefully. Read this verse once more. Does your obedience to Jesus look like this? Does your following of Jesus lead you to care about, and do, these things? Is your practice of Christianity delivering good news to the poor? Are you comforting and healing the miserable and brokenhearted? Does your faith lead you to offer hope to those bound up physically, mentally, emotionally, or spiritually?

It’s very easy, in our practice of Christianity, to lose sight of Christ. Too often, we forget about what matters to Him and what He came to do. All too often, we aren’t really following Jesus, we’re following ourselves or earthly leaders, while putting a Christian label on that. That isn’t following Jesus. Take a fresh look at Jesus. Then #FollowJesus

“Come, everyone who thirsts,
come to the waters;
and he who has no money,
come, buy and eat!
Come, buy wine and milk
without money and without price.”
– Isaiah 55:1

This is your invitation to God’s endless buffet of grace! Isaiah 55 is all about the unimaginable, incomprehensible grace of God. The love He shows toward the unlovable. The forgiveness He shows toward the unforgivable. The restoration He works in the hopelessly broken. These are the ways of God that aren’t our ways and the thoughts of God that are infinitely higher than our thoughts (see Isaiah 55:8-9).

This verse isn’t an invitation to enjoy cheap food and drink. It’s an invitation to life itself. Eternal life in Christ Jesus, the Son of God. Through Isaiah, God invites everyone to come to Him. To bring nothing to the table because we have nothing worthy bringing. Instead, we simply need what God offers and will never earn it, deserve it, or be due it. Rather, God desires to give His Word, His forgiveness, and His compassion freely and for free. All the cost was paid long ago by Jesus on the cross. You need pay nothing (and you can’t pay anything). Just accept His invitation through faith in His Son.

Come to Jesus, Who provides living water for your thirsty soul. Come and nourish your hungry, unsatisfied soul in union with your Savior. Come and feed on His Word, His presence, and His love. Don’t worry that you can’t pay—that’s the point! Everything has already been paid for you.

Come to the table of the Lord and feast on His grace. #FollowJesus

“But he was pierced for our transgressions;
he was crushed for our iniquities;
upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace,
and with his wounds we are healed.”
– Isaiah 53:5

This is Jesus! Isaiah prophesied these things about Jesus 7 centuries before they happened and it’s breathtaking to contemplate. Of course, there’s a good chance these words are familiar to you. Regardless of whether they are or they aren’t, let them really settle into your mind and heart. Jesus, the eternal Son of God, took on a human body and nature to do what God promised here…

The sinless Son of God suffered and died for our sins. He was nailed to a Roman cross to suffer and die – pierced for our many transgressions. He was stripped, beaten, and whipped – crushed for our iniquities. God’s wrath and punishment were poured out on Jesus to end our war against God and reconcile us to Him in peace. Christ’s terrible wounds have healed the deepest wounds of our souls, raising all who entrust their lives to Him to eternal spiritual life.

Read the verse once more. Know that Jesus endured all this out of love for you. He did it so that the moment you believe in Him, you are adopted and welcomed into His family as His younger sibling. Jesus did this to rescue you from your sins and unite Himself with you. Truly it’s extraordinary to meditate on what Jesus did for you on the cross. Please take some time, before you continue your day, to give thanks and praise to Lord Jesus. #FollowJesus