Imitate Jesus Christ

The apostle Paul called upon mankind to imitate himself (I Corinthians 4:16, Philippians 3:17), others who served God (Hebrews 6:12, 2 Thessalonians 3:7-9), and the Churches of God (I Thessalonians 2:14).  However, hear his ultimate call: “Imitate Jesus Christ!” (I Corinthians 11:1).

Paul addressed the Thessalonians in I Thessalonians 1:6, noting they imitated Jesus Christ.  Though persecution came to them, they joyfully embraced the inspired Word of God.  Three verses earlier, Paul praised them for three behaviors: their work of faith, labor of love, and steadfastness of hope.  By these, the Thessalonians demonstrated unity with Christ.

To students of scripture, the words imparted to James by the Holy Spirit, “Even so, faith, if it has no works, is dead, by itself”, do not bring surprise.  To those who believe Christ accepts them even with their lack of service, a sad ignorance exists.

Galatians 2:16 – “Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.”

A man can do nothing by his own design to justify himself in the sight of God.  The law demonstrated this fact.  Man’s justification comes from Christ’s faith.  Christ lived the Law of Moses without bringing its curse upon Him (Deuteronomy 27:26).  What He did (John 5:30) and the blessings He brought upon all mankind (Genesis 22:18) came only through obedience to God.  Jesus trusted God the Father and His works demonstrated His Faith.  Man’s faithful obedience earns nothing, but as in all ages, men who walk by faith shall live (Hebrews 10:38).  They live through the faith of Jesus the Messiah.  They live faithfully when they imitate Jesus Christ.

When Jesus declared in Matthew 16:24 that man must “deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me”, no one believed they would live a life of ease.  Jesus labored while upon the earth.  Jesus found persecution around every corner.  He let his disciples know they should expect the same (John 15:18-20).  Still, Jesus declared the labor done in obedience to God was easy and light (Matthew 11:28-30).

John 17:22-26 – “And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me. Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.  O righteous Father, the world hath not known thee: but I have known thee, and these have known that thou hast sent me.  And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them.”

Jesus demonstrated the labor of love.  God loves Jesus.  God loves the world.  Jesus desired we experience the same love so we might be one with the Father.  Jesus states very clearly in John 14:15, our labor demonstrates our love toward Him.  When we engage His labor of love, we imitate Jesus Christ.

Jesus exemplifies the steadfastness of hope which the Thessalonians employed.  Through Jesus work of faith and His labor of love, He knew He would die being rejected by those He came to save and do so through great suffering (Matthew 8:31).  Yet, He had hope.  On the day of Pentecost, Peter spoke of Jesus’ hope prophesied by King David over a thousand years before.

Acts 2:25-28 – “For David speaketh concerning him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved: Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope: Because thou wilt not leave my soul in Hades, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.  Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance.”

Clearly, Jesus hope rested in the Father that He would not remain in the grave.  He completely believed in the joy of being again with the Father and experiencing the glory of Heaven again (John 17:5).  Those washed in the blood of Christ hold to the hope of resurrection as Christ himself experienced resurrection (I Corinthians 15).  On the final day of the earth’s existence, those who imitate Jesus Christ will rise to meet him in the clouds (I Thessalonians 4:17).

The apostle Paul, following the steps of Jesus, provides a pattern for everlasting life (I Timothy 1:15-16).  He commends the Thessalonians for walking in the pattern.  Within the pages of scripture, “the faith which was once for all delivered” (Jude 3) exists that all men might strive to obtain it.  Passages such as Ephesians 5 and others provide a very clear picture of what it means to engage in a work of faith, a labor of love, and the steadfastness of hope.  In their simplest form, they declare “Imitate Jesus Christ”.  Pick up the Bible today and learn to walk the footsteps of God.

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Squirrely

My wife calls my daughter “squirrely girly”.  My daughter in a high squeaky voice replies. “No, you’re squirrely!”  I enjoy listening to their playful banter, but no longer can my wife proclaim our daughter to be the squirreliest member of the family.   As of this afternoon, we have added two baby squirrels to our collection of people, cats, fish, frog, and dog.  How this situation came about and how it relates to Christianity will be the focus of the next few paragraphs.

I am passionate about cutting down trees and chopping wood.  I enjoy smelling like chainsaw gas and walking around with wood chips in my beard.  Currently, I am in the process of clearing out some brush so I can pull an existing shed to a new location near my cabin.  The biggest concern to me loomed in the form of a large maple tree.  That maple tree leaned toward the cabin, but also twisted in other directions.  I fearfully envisioned falling the tree and watching it smash into the cabin roof.  Fortunately, this tale does not end that way.  Utilizing chainsaw and wedge, the tree fell away from the cabin.  All did not end so simply though.  While saving the cabin, I also snared the tree up in another tree.  No stress, by cutting the hung up tree in chunks, the trouble quickly dislodged.  After picking up a bit of brush, I noticed some blood all over the face of a log.  Immediately, I checked my own digits and legs.  No blood!  Whew.  So what was the source of the blood?  Unbeknownst to me, I cut a mother squirrel in half.   I found the part still alive and put her out of her distress.  Moments later some “chittering” came from the hollow of one of the cut up logs.  Surprise!  Instant adoption of motherless baby squirrels.

Take a moment and consider the whole plight from the view of the squirrels.  Happily they rested in their warm little tree hollow.  Then along with a piercing loud noise, their home began to tremble and shake.  Soon thereafter, their world literally came crashing down.  Oh, what a terrible fright the little squirrels must have had as closer and closer the saw worked toward them, chunking the tree bit by bit.  Mother squirrel cradling her young, worried about protecting them, just to have her life be the one taken.  Now the little squirrels rely completely upon me for survival.

At least four Christian concepts can be drawn from the day’s squirrely adventure.

First, death can come at any time.   The author James calls life a vapor and notes its brevity (James 4:4).  Woe to those such as the man who relies on great plans beyond today without getting their spiritual house in order (Luke 12:16-21).

Second, we will not always be there for our young.  Deuteronomy 6:4-9 pleads with Israel to teach their young all the commands of the Lord.  They must be encouraged to listen and obey.   Long after our death, the sound principles imparted to our children guide them safely through life (Ephesians 6:1-3).

Third, adoption exists for individuals in need.  Matthew 5:3 quotes Jesus saying, “Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven”.    Again in Matthew 11:28 he said, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”  Jesus calls men to him so that they may receive adoption from the Father.  Adoption of those in need (and all need God) comes from the plan of the Father because of His love for mankind (Ephesians 1:3-6, John 3:16).

Finally, life exists for those who accept the care offered them.  What happens to those who reject the spiritual nourishment and care of the Lord?  They will hunger, they will weaken, and they will die.  Jesus provides the words of life (John 6:68).  He desires man to live and their hunger to be filled (Matthew 5:6).  Hear his words: “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you would not! (Matthew 23:37) Unfortunately, many reject his blessings and he therefore rejects them (Matthew 10:33).  Men die, because they reject life.

Some folks conclude life is squirrely.  We do not know when it will end.  We do not know how long we will be here for our youth.  However, we can trust in God to be there for us who need Him.  He stands willing to be a Father to us.  He will care and nourish those who choose to allow Him.  What can be said of those who do not accept such blessing?  “He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool; But whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered.” (Proverbs 28:26) Translation: Only a squirrely individual won’t hear the Words of God.  What can be said of such an individual?  They must be “nuts”.

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Clothes Make the Man

Do clothes really make the man?  In other words, do they indicate the quality of an individual?  Certainly how a person clothes himself affects the judgment of many others regarding him.  However, truthfully speaking, the physical appearance of a man does not represent a completely trustworthy gauge.  Ted Bundy was considered to be quite a handsome well groomed man, but he lived a life as a serial killer.  Many undercover police officers dress and look horribly evil.  However, the purpose of their clothing represents a higher quality than their appearance.  The greatest and highest quality man to ever walk the earth, Jesus, certainly did not have an outstanding appearance according to man:

Isaiah 53:2-3 – “For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.”

The answer to “Do clothes make the man?” when contemplated from a physical standpoint must  be answered “No!”

Now, ask the question once more, “Do clothes really make the man?” and this time consider the spiritual clothing of man.  Ponder the Christian, erring Christian, willfully disobedient Christian, disfellowshipped Christian, member of a denomination, member of a religious body which does not recognize the God of the Bible as the one and only God, and finally, the individual with no religious ties.  While this seems like a large group to analyze, be assured their standing in God’s eyes can readily be ascertained.  Accepting the Bible as the final authority as to how the individuals are clothed will determine if “spiritual clothes makes the man”.  The Word of God is truth (John 17:17) and any conclusion of man’s quality not based on scripture cannot stand (Matthew 7:24-27).

2 Thessalonians 1:7-9 represents a good starting place for examination.  This passage discusses the return of Christ and declares those that do not know God and have not obeyed the gospel of Jesus shall be punished with everlasting destruction.  Acts 4:10-12 establishes that only by the name of Jesus Christ will men be saved.  Jesus himself says in Matthew 10:32-33 that individuals who deny him he will deny before the father in heaven.  Denying Christ and refusing His name equate to not obeying him.  Jesus told the apostles to teach all creation to observe all that he had commanded them (Matthew 28:19-20).  Those commands include hearing the Word that one might have faith (Romans 10:17), confessing Jesus as Lord and believing in His resurrection (Romans 10:9-10), repenting (Acts 2:38), being baptized (Mark 16:16, I Peter 3:21), and being faithful to death (Revelation 2:10).  Christians can be identified by these characteristics.  The obedient Christian will be saved because with his sins being washed away he will not be kept from God (Isaiah 59:1-2, Acts 22:16, Revelation 1:5).  All of these verses demonstrating the obedience of a Christian relate directly to his clothing.  The Christian wears the clothing of Christ and keeps those clothes on by continuing to obey Christ’s commands.  His spiritual clothes identify him as precious quality.

Galatians 3:27 – “For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.”

John 8:31-32 – “Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

Approaching the aforementioned groups of men for examination in reverse order (minus the Christian already defined), how many have obeyed Christ and put Him on?  Certainly, the individual with no religious ties does not put on Christ.  He wears the clothes of worldliness.  Romans 12:1-2 tells the Christian to not be conformed to the world.  Those who do not recognize the God of the Bible and worship other gods (Matthew 4:10) also clothe themselves in disobedient worldliness.  They do not wear the quality clothing of Christ.  Additionally, members of denominations, putting aside the name of Christ and accepting labels such as Catholic, Baptist, Methodist, Lutheran, Evangelical, Protestant, Charismatic, etc., openly deny Christ by identification.  Furthermore, they chiefly deny the baptism Christ commanded for salvation while accepting man made creeds in their worship.  Such groups certainly wear the clothes of worldliness rather than Christ.  When considering those previously identified as Christians, but who have been disfellowshipped by the Church because they turned to follow worldliness, it can be said they too do not wear the clothing of Christ.  Next, consider the clothes of the willfully disobedient Christian (but not disfellowshipped).  Matthew 6:24 declares man cannot serve two masters.  If not committing to wearing Christ, the Christian commits to wearing the garb of the world.  All of these groups due to their purposeful lack of obedience to Christ shall be eternally punished.  They do not have salvation which comes only in Christ according the Bible.  These folks though fitting into different subgroups, all fit the description of a single group whose clothes identify them as condemned.

Finally, consider the erring Christian who wants to serve God, but still finds himself falling into sin (James 3:2).  Should erring Christians be considered one with the willfully disobedient or disfellowshipped Christian?  How can those who are clinging to Christ be considered the same as those who willingly reject him.  Is the erring Christian the same as the member of a denomination, false religion, or non-religious?  No!  The erring Christian became an heir of Christ, a brother, while the others have no relationship with Christ at All.  Many people believe “real” Christians are supposedly “perfect” or without sin.  The apostle Paul wrote in Romans 3:23, “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”  Later in Romans 7:14-25, Paul detailed how he battled sin.  His battle continually went on, flesh against spirit.  Should Paul be considered the same as those lost and without hope in their current behaviors?  No!  The apostle John says as much in I John 1:8-2:1:

“If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.  My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.  But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.”

Erring Christians may not be without sin, but they work to abide in Christ.  Unlike those who cling to the world, they are All Christians find themselves in this state at one time or another.  They falter in sins of ignorance and presumption (Psalm 19), but asking forgiveness they see their sins forgiven.  Thus, they still wear the clothing of Christ and salvation.  No man lives without sin.  Sin represents a constant battle.  Christians often find themselves in error by weakness or ignorance.  Their penitent response to sin causes the blood of Christ to continually wash them, enabling them to abide in Christ perpetually.  The clothes of an individual can be observed by their deeds in complete.  Those spiritual clothes definitely make the man.

In Matthew 22:1-14, Jesus tells a parable of the kingdom of God as a wedding.  A great number were invited but only a few came.  Those who can be considered as not coming are those of the world, the false religions, the denominations, and disfellowshipped Christians who have returned to the world.  Those who came were the erring Christians and the willfully sinful Christians.  However, the King noticed the one who did not belong.  His clothes gave him away.  He was not wearing the wedding clothes commanded.  Who could this be?  The Christian who willfully sins demonstrates his worldly clothes by his worldly deeds.  His quality lacks that desired by the King.  The erring, but continually penitent Christian stands with his wedding clothes pure in Christ.   While it cannot be said of physical clothes, spiritual clothes of Christ make the man.  They demonstrate the acceptable, highly prized quality demanded by God.

A commonly seen bumper sticker reads:  “Christians are not perfect, just forgiven.”  An erring Christian should not be lumped into groups who identify with the world; he should be identified with the God whom he serves.  The erring Christian constantly seeks to do right and listens to correction that he might not fall.  The difference between him as a Christian and others comes down to love.  We know he loves, because he works to keep Christ’s commandments (John 14:15).

Perhaps a last question needs to be asked.  Should one fellowship an erring Christian?  Absolutely!  Fellowship enabled Paul to rebuke Peter when Peter was distancing himself from non-Jewish Christians (Galatians 2:14).  Fellowship enables us to “save some” (Jude 1:20-23) from eternal fire. Christians have an obligation to aid their brothers in their struggling.  Consider all the words of rebuke, admonishment, and encouragement Paul shared with the erring Corinthians and Galatians.  Did he simply drop them like a rock because of their struggles in sin?  No!  Ephesians 5:11 establishes the Christian is not to share or fellowship the sinful actions of erring Christians.  All the while, the Christian reproves his brother to turn back taking time to study with him, encourage him, and strengthen him (2 Timothy 2:24-26).  Consider the erring new Christian.  Though he put on Christ his knowledge likely remains incomplete.  Perhaps for a time he will continue to engage in sinful behavior without realizing the error.  However, his heart remains unchanged from the moment he was baptized.  He desires to do all Christ commands him. When through study he realizes his error, repentance immediately occurs.  During this time of growth (no Christian should stop growing) should he be treated as if out of Christ because he errs?  Certainly not!  Only when a fellow brother in Christ refuses to hear the Word any longer has he cast aside his garments in Christ and returned to the world.  Until that time, the erring Christian shares the blessings of Christian unity, rejoicing in hope, suffering together, and caring for one another (I Corinthians 12:14-27).  Demonstrate the fruit of the spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) with such an individual showing longsuffering and love toward him.  He wears the clothes of Christ and should be treated as such, not as a foreigner who is of the world.

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Seeking the Perfect Man?

A great number of women wonder if the perfect man exists.  They have scanned the horizon and often come back thinking they must train a man to make him perfect.  That leads them to the question, “Can a man learn to be perfect?” Certainly, a great number of women attempt to find out!  In the long run, the realization of perfection depends upon the standard used and whether or not a man adheres to it.  Many women believe their man reaches near perfection when they can get him to stop leaving his underwear on the floor and he begins putting the dishes in the dishwasher.  Seeking the perfect man is no joke!  A higher standard of perfection exists.  A perfect man can be had!

In the pages of the Bible, Jesus stands as a sinless model of perfection.  However, the Bible lists two other men as being perfect.  Genesis 6:9 notes, “Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations and Noah walked with God.”  Job 1:1, 1:8, and 2:3 declare Job “perfect and upright, one that feareth God, and turned away from evil”.  The characteristics that went with perfection:  being just, walking with God, being upright, fearing God, and turning away from evil.  Truthfully, these can be reduced to two:  Fearing God and keeping His commandments.  Fearing God means to be reverent toward Him.  Not surprisingly, the concept of these two characteristics of perfection can be found elsewhere in scripture.  God declared these characteristics ought to represent the Israelites whom He delivered from Egypt (Deuteronomy 5:29, 6:2, 8:6, 13:4.  The judge Samuel also voiced it to Israel: “Only fear the LORD, and serve him in truth with all your heart: for consider how great things he hath done for you” (I Samuel 12:24).  King Solomon given great wisdom from God declared: “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man” (Ecclesiastes 12:13).  King Hezekiah declared as much when he said: “I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart” (Isaiah 38:3).  Though other Old Testament references exist, consider one last mention of the characteristics that go with perfection spoken from the perfect man Jesus: “God is a spirit and those that worship Him must worship Him in Spirit and Truth” (John 4:24).  If a woman wants to find a perfect man, the true standard involves these characteristics.

Is perfection too much to expect from a man?  No!  So Ladies, do not give up!  Not only Jesus, Noah, and Job meet the standard.  David proclaimed God made his way perfect (2 Samuel 22:33).  Jesus called upon man to be perfect in Matthew 5:48, “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.”  Paul wrote, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17)  The words of Paul explain the Word of God directs man to perfection.  Again, Paul declares in Ephesians 4:13 it is the knowledge of the Son of God coming from the gospel which will perfect a man.  He further writes in Romans 12:2 that man is to transform from his worldly ways proving the Will of God.  This is action!  This comes from fearing God and keeping God’s commandments as established long ago stretching even to the Garden of Eden (Genesis 2:17).

Understand this, perfection does not mean a man will not sin (I John 1:8).  Though perfect men may sin, they realize through the advocate Jesus Christ, their sin will be forgiven (I John 2:1-2).  In the garden, Jesus prayed fervently for himself, his disciples, and those that would believe on Him in the world.  Part of the words he uttered there are as follows: “And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth. Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me. (John 17:19-23)  Jesus expresses that when man unites with Him, He unites with them.  By the glory of God in Christ, man becomes perfect.  Though God’s grace exists, man does not let sin continue to reign over him, but walks in a life for Christ (Romans 6).

As Christ prayed for the perfection of men, ladies pray for your perfect man.  This is a courageous work that God will aid you in.  Consider Colossians 4:12: “Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.”  Epaphras worked to pray for the perfection of the saints.  The author of Hebrews also prayed for the perfection of the saints in Hebrews 13:20-21.  James the brother of Jesus wrote: “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” (James 5:16)  Do not let a day go by that you do not pray for your perfect man.  Let God continue to strengthen him through your prayers.

Finally, as iron sharpens iron, ladies if you want a perfect man, perfect yourselves.  Psalms 18:32 – “It is God that girdeth me with strength, and maketh my way perfect”.  Micah 6:8 – “He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?”  God does not just desire that the male demonstrate the characteristics of perfection, but the female as well.  The words of the mother of King Lemuel which she taught him (Proverbs 31:30)  “Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.”   Such a woman represents perfection in the eyes of a man and most importantly God.  When a woman cleaves to a man she must remember she stands as his helpmeet.  She aids him in perfection to such a degree that she need not even say a word when he struggles with perfection knowing that her example of perfection appeals to him (I Peter 3:1-2).

Seeking the perfect man?  A perfect standard exists for the perfect man.  Seek a man who fears God and keeps His commandments.  Seek a man who desires the same perfection in you.  Perfect men exist.  Through His Word, Jesus sacrificed Himself to perfect those who would abide in Him (John 8:31-32).  Man on his own cannot achieve perfection, he will sin.  Pray for his perfection.  Show him your perfection in the way you live your life for Christ.  You can be the perfect woman for the perfect man.

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Faithful Commitment

Jesus, the messiah of mankind, lived a life in the flesh like no other man.  His words and his actions perfectly fit the pattern prescribed by God the Father (John 5:30, John 12:49-50).  That all men save Jesus fall short of the Glory of God is factual (Romans 3:23).  Yet, many who declare themselves prepared for faithful commitment to God soon find themselves transgressing against their vows to serve him.  Their declaration of service comes before considering the cost – their life (Galatians 2:20).  Jesus spoke about this in the parable of the sower.

Matthew 13:20-21 – And he that was sown upon the rocky places, this is he that heareth the word, and straightway with joy receiveth it; yet hath he not root in himself, but endureth for a while; and when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, straightway he stumbleth.

How many souls have walked the path of those words?  Hearts praise God every time a sinner comes to Him and humbly calls upon him for forgiveness.  The sinner dedicates his service to Jesus as Lord and buries himself in the waters of baptism so he can walk in the newness of life (Romans 6:4).   Then, sadly, within a short time he sets aside his vow of faithful commitment and returns to the world.  It is much like an individual who swears off addictions.  His earnestness appears obvious to all.  Yet, he cannot bear the weight of his choice and returns once again to a lack of self control.

The path of those who hastily agree to faithful commitment to God is broad.  The people of Israel left Egypt, a firstborn nation of God.  When Moses shared with them the ordinances of God, “all the people answered with one voice, and said all the words which Jehovah hath spoken will we do.” (Exodus 24:3)  Shortly thereafter (forty days and forty nights), when Moses would come down Mt. Sinai with the ten commandments etched in stone by the finger of God, he would find the children of Israel already engaged in sins against Him whom they swore to obey.  Israel was the bride of God and yet, they chose to be unfaithful.  A marriage of 40 days resulting in infidelity demonstrates a lack of dedication to vows.  That sinful body of people save those twenty years old and under as well as Joshua and Caleb would not make it out of the wilderness.  They would spend 40 years meeting their death.

The feet of the descendants of that people would make it to the Promised Land, Canaan.  After establishing themselves in the land, Joshua would speak to them about their renewed vows to God in Joshua 24:19-22:

“ … Ye cannot serve Jehovah; for he is a holy God; he is a jealous God; he will not forgive your transgression nor your sins.  If ye forsake Jehovah, and serve foreign gods, then he will turn and do you evil, and consume you, after that he hath done you good. And the people said unto Joshua, Nay; but we will serve Jehovah.  And Joshua said unto the people, Ye are witnesses against yourselves that ye have chosen you Jehovah, to serve him. And they said, We are witnesses.”

 Joshua was critical of their dedication to the Lord.  He warned them of unfaithfulness.  Still they declared they would serve God.  Following the death of Joshua, the people faltered in their obedience to God their Head and Master.  They did not drive the inhabitants of Canaan out of the land.  They became idolatrous.  They turned their back on the One to whom they had been betrothed.  They broke their vows to walk the broad way of their forefathers.  They had truly not committed themselves to the Lord.  God punished them often for their continued disobedience.

Centuries later, beyond the time of judges and toward the end of the Kings of Israel, the prophet Jeremiah would prophecy of the coming terror of Babylon.  He would tell the people of Judah and Jerusalem that they would be disciplined for their infidelity.  The people called upon Jeremiah to beseech the Lord in prayer for their safety: “Whether it be good, or whether it be evil, we will obey the voice of the LORD our God, to whom we send thee; that it may be well with us, when we obey the voice of the LORD our God” (Jeremiah 42:6).  The word of God came to Jeremiah telling the people to stand strong in the land which He had given them.  Not to run in fear back to the land of Egypt.  If they would remain, He would turn away Babylon.  Yet, the people did run to Egypt.  They did not obey God, once again going against their own words.  Thus, Babylon destroyed them by the hand of God.

Those things recorded of Israel serve as a guide to the actions of man today (Romans 15:4).  God is a faithful God (Deuteronomy 7:9), but Israel did not put their trust in Him.  They had received him initially with joy, but they did not have depth to their embracing of Him.  He therefore disciplined them for their lack of faithful commitment.

Seeing that man has often jumped into the service of God without a deep commitment, soon turning away from Him, what can be done to reduce the occurrence of this?

First, adequate instruction should be given to those who would come to Christ.  So frequently, the demands of discipleship are not explained thoroughly to the potential Christian.  Individuals readily clothe themselves in Him through baptism, only to realize their hearts were not ready to repent of their worldly lifestyles.  The trials and persecutions which arise immediately overcome the unprepared and weak soul.  Great care must be taken with those who have an infantile knowledge of Christ.  They must be nourished and fed His Word with the understanding of what it means to be a Christian.

Luke 14:27-33 – Whosoever doth not bear his own cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple. For which of you, desiring to build a tower, doth not first sit down and count the cost, whether he have wherewith to complete it? Lest haply, when he hath laid a foundation, and is not able to finish, all that behold begin to mock him, saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish. Or what king, as he goeth to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and take counsel whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand? Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and asketh conditions of peace.  So therefore whosoever he be of you that renounceth not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.

Second, those considering Christ must understand the world and its vices are not their friend, but an enemy to be put away with the birth of a new creature (John 3:5, 2 Corinthians 5:17).  So many believe they can still be a part of the world around them and serve Christ in faithful commitment.  Yet, this was the failure of Israel before them.  Israel was not to dwell with the people of the land (Deuteronomy 7:1-3).  They were not to marry with them.  They were not to make covenants with them.  They were to utterly destroy them since their time of disobedience was over (Genesis 15:16).  While God does not call His people to discipline by war as He did in the time of Israel (Vengeance is the Lord’s – Romans 12:19), He does still call upon His people to be separate from the world (Romans 12:1-2, 2 Corinthians 6:14-18).

Finally, consider Jesus Words in Matthew 12:43-45:

“ But the unclean spirit, when he is gone out of the man, passeth through waterless places, seeking rest, and findeth it not. Then he saith, I will return into my house whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished. Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more evil than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man becometh worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this evil generation.”

Not only must those who would come to Christ be truly taught what it means to be a disciple and separate from the world, they must understand the need to fill their lives with the things of God (Philippians 4:8).  There is a term often used “Nature abhors a vacuum” carrying the meaning that emptiness will be filled.  The question is what shall fill the life of one coming to Christ?  They may indeed cleanse themselves of sin, but if they do not fill their lives in the service and knowledge of their God through faithful commitment, they will once again fill it in service to the god of the world (2 Timothy 2:15, 2 Peter 3:18).

Take a moment to consider all those who you have seen baptized into Christ.  Whether young or old, how many of them fully understood before their conversion what was expected from discipleship?  Did they separate themselves from the world or did they continue to try and balance the world with their life?  Did they fill themselves with the Words which Jehovah spoke or did they once again live a life stained by the filth of the world?  Christians, be vigilant to remain faithful (I Corinthians 10:12, 16:13) and take great care with those who espouse themselves to Christ (2 Timothy 2:24-26, Jude 1:20-23).

Our relationship with God is a deep matter in which we should be fully prepared to trust our God and exercise faithful commitment to our vows to Him while training others to observe the same.  While souls will still be lost who did not fully consider the costs of discipleship, by taking the steps discussed, more will be prepared.

Matthew 26:41 – “Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

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