LIVING AS FOLLOWERS OF JESUS (part-05)

JESUS GIVES US SOME VALUABLE ADVICE FOR LIVING AS A CHRISTIAN

BIBLE PASSAGE:
Jesus replied: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart
and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the
first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it:
Love your neighbor as yourself.”
(Matthew 22:37-39)

MEDITATION:
God gave Moses the Ten Commandments to be used as a guideline
for pleasing and obeying the Lord. Some believers focus on these
commandments, but fail to grasp the true meaning of being a
‘follower of Jesus Christ’.

Certainly, we need to obey God’s commandments, but we must
also understand that being a Christian includes developing a new
mindset, a new focus, a new attitude and new habits.

When Jesus replied to the Pharisees, He gave them (and us) some
valuable information about God’s expectations of those He has
rescued. Whenever we follow His advice, being obedient to the
Ten Commandments should be a byproduct of our new life of
living as a Christian.

Jesus said we need to have a new vertical relationship (with God),
and a new horizontal relationship (with our neighbors). If we love
God with all our heart, then we will have the capacity to love our
neighbors as well. True Christian love will find a way to love and
serve both God and our neighbors.

Love is the key to developing a new attitude and interaction with
God and with others.
    – No longer do we look for the faults in others;
       instead, we look for the good in them.
    – No longer do we ridicule and discourage others;
       instead, we encourage them.
    – No longer do we selfishly focus on ourselves and our desires
       but ignore the needs of others; instead, we are humble and
       value others above ourselves (Philippians 2:3-4).

The list could go on and on, but in essence, following Jesus means
we develop a mindset that is similar, and more aligned with Jesus.
    In your relationships with one another,
    have the same mindset as Christ Jesus
    (Philippians 2:5)

When Jesus was in human form, He lived His life as a humble and
obedient servant of God. He gave up everything for God and for us!
    Rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature
    of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being
    found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by
    becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!
    (Philippians 2:7-8)

ACTION:
Questions to ask ourselves:
    – Have I developed a mindset similar to the mindset of Jesus?
       Or, do I still have some of the same attitudes I had before
       receiving salvation from the Lord?
    – How do I personally express love toward God and toward others?
    – Can I recall times when I have made special efforts to
       express love and encouragement to others (not just those
       in my tight social circle, but to others who I barely know)?
    – How often do I think about the trials someone else is struggling with,
       and say or do something that lets them know I care about them?
    – How often do I let someone know I am praying for them and their situation?
       Not looking to give advice, or expecting a certain type of response from them,
       but just letting them know I care and am praying for them.

According to the scriptures, if we have not developed a humble
and loving attitude toward God and toward others, then we are
not advancing toward the mindset of Jesus; we are not maturing
as Christian followers of Jesus; we are part-time followers and
not full-time followers.
    I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot.
    I wish you were either one or the other! So, because
    you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I will spew
    you out of my mouth.
    (Revelation 3:15-16)

Jesus was the personification of humility and love. Sure, being humble
can be a difficult transition for anyone, but if the Lord (Who had all the
credentials for being superior to others) can humble Himself, then every
Christian (aka follower of Jesus) can do the same. Humility isn’t a sign
of weakness, but of strength under control. It takes a strong person to
be humble.

When we are with others, do we steer the conversation toward us
and our activities, or do we ask others about themselves? Are we
loud and do we dominate the conversation, or are we courteous,
respectful, and interested in what others have to say (rather than
planning what we are going to say next)?

Are we quick to give advice to others on how they should do things,
or do we ask questions to better understand why they do things the
way they do them? There are people who give too much unsolicited
advice to others without fully understanding their emotions and the
circumstances they are trying to cope with.

Pray,
“Heavenly Father, thank You for Your merciful and gracious
gift of salvation. Help me to replace my arrogant pride and
selfishness with humility and love for You, and for others.
Jesus has shown me what true humility and love looks like.
Since love demands everything I have, I pray that You will
help me remove the things in my life that hinder me from
loving You and my neighbor as I should. Help me to love
and obey the way Jesus did, when He walked among us.”

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