Saturday Reflection – 09 October 2021

Saturday Reflection – 09 October 2021

Jesus said, “Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there will my servant be also.” St. John 12:26

Our Christian life is a journey. From the moment we accept Jesus Christ as our personal Lord and Saviour, we begin a relationship with Him, through whom we experience abundant life in the here and now and eternal life in the next. In this Christian life, we have Jesus living on the inside, working on the outside, bringing about that change in our lives. And so, as the writer to the Hebrews encourages us, we “…run with patience, the race set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith…” (Hebrews 12:1b-2a)

Jesus’ words in our doctrinal text, presents to us to full truth that if we are going to be Christians, we have to 100% committed, 100% of the time; we have to surrender our all to Jesus, withholding nothing. And when we are fully surrendered, then will God mould us, fill us and use us, even to His honour and His glory. Having surrendered all, we are not bound to this things of this world, but are able to follow Jesus all the way, as we are led and guided by the Holy Spirit, along this journey of life.

But many times, we find that there are things of this world, that catch our attention, and divert our focus from Jesus. Yes, we are reminded by the Lord Jesus that God knows that we have need of food and clothing, and call us to seek first the kingdom and His righteousness, then will all other things be added unto us. The thing about this journey, that is our Christian life, is that in our walk with the Saviour, we grow even in a more intimate relationship with Christ and become more like Him. It starts with surrendering all, and trusting and allowing God to lead and guide us and to provide our needs, but we must reject the sinful traits; thoughts, words and actions that once stained us, and put on the new person; clothing ourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness and patience. (Colossians 3:12) Because our Christian life is a journey, and we walk hand-in-hand with the Master, the closer we are in our Christian lifestyle, to adopting and observing the character traits that marks the child of God, the closer we are in our walk with God. For our walk with God, is not only exemplified in our words and our worship, but in our lifestyle.

Jesus left us the perfect example, and is the master template for Christian living, and that is why he says, follow me. This follow me is a call to walk in the footprints left by Jesus, to hear and heed the teachings of Jesus, and to hear and heed the leading and guiding of the Holy Spirit, and to model our lives after the One who died for us. For he was obedient unto death, and through Him we have salvation. Even as we have the master template to emulate, Jesus continues to live inside us, and work in us, by the Spirit, to make us, mould us, and to fashion us according to God’s will for our lives. And he continues to intercede on our behalf to the Father. In the same way, we must be open to the instruction and moulding of the Master Potter, the husbandman, who prunes the branches, that they are able to bear much fruit.

Is there anything in our lives, that is preventing us from being totally committed to Christ? Is there anything or anyone that is restricting our obedience and total surrender? Jesus says that we must follow Him, not only when it suits us, but always. We must trust Him, not only when we see the benefit, but always, We must obey Him, not only when we see the outcome, but always. Then will our walk with close with God. I pray that we will tear down the idols, the conditions, the reservations that are preventing us from heeding the loving voice of our Saviour as he says to us “Follow me” That we will let go of sin, and pride and vanity, and hold on to the sweet assurance that Christ gives to us. Rest assured, every day with Jesus is sweeter than the day before! Then will the journey lead us across the Jordan and into the promised land.

Until next week, Jesus said “My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand.” (St. John 10:27-28) Here, Jesus is saying to us that if we are His sheep, then we hear His voice, and follow in complete obedience. Much like the animal when its owner calls Him either for food or to come home. When our walk is close with God, we will never perish, God will not allow us to! God who guides us, will lead us safely across the Jordan. No one can pull us away from the hands of the Master! For when our walk is close with God, there is a light that shines upon the narrow road, that leads us to eternal life, that leads us to the Lamb. Amen.

Dominic J. Blair