Believer or Follower…….There’s a difference
Titus 2:12 “And we are instructed to turn from Godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God.”
The heart of this scripture is that followers of Jesus Christ are to live differently from the rest of the world. They are to turn away from living as if God doesn’t exist; to turn away from living a life devoted to satisfying their own pleasures. Followers of Jesus are to live within this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God. In living this way, followers of Jesus offer a different way of living and being in the world that is in sharp contrast to the ways of the world. There should be a distinct difference in the lifestyle of followers of Jesus and non followers so that there may be a space created for the work of God’s grace to reach those non followers and that their lives might be transformed.
What if we changed our language in the Church from non believer to non follower? Isn’t belief only so we can now follow? Isn’t belief only a means that opens up a door for God’s grace to create us into fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ? Following Jesus means to turn from the sinful desires of this evil world and to live lives with complete devotion to seeking wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God. To only claim “belief” and for that claim not to lead to a transformation of lifestyle then that claim was nothing but wasted breath. I come this morning realizing that there is so much that I do not know about the faith; I come this morning sensing that God is doing something new in the world but yet unsure what that is or how it applies to me and my ministry but desiring to be a part of God’s continual revelation. I desire to seek wisdom and righteousness; I desire to be devoted to God today that I may become a more devoted follower.
Lord Jesus, I am sorry for the ways I have rebelled against your love and sought the ways of the world instead of following your ways. Please forgive your church for looking more like the church of the world instead of a church after your heart. I pray that you would give me the strength to proclaim your truth in the face of the world and that you would give me the grace today to be a fully devoted follower of you. I pray that you would give me the grace today to seek wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God; may these things be the driving force of my life today. Be active in my life today and give me the grace to recognize and respond to that activity. Amen!
In my culture there is a difference between being a believer and a fully devoted follower of Jesus Christ.
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