happy
Title: Picture Perfect (someone else came up with thit title because i didnt have one)
I have a friend who has the perfect life. Maybe not perfect, but she comes close with the loving and supportive Christian family, caring friends, Godly boyfriend, her growing ministry and top-notch education. I am happy for her, but needless to say, there were times when I secretly compared my life to hers and complained to God. I asked God why her Christian journey seemed much easier than mine, and thought that I definitely deserved the same, if not more, blessings from Him. After all, He must reward me my desires for all the struggles and pain I’ve endured while following Him. I knew that I was wrong to think in such a way, but sometimes I got so caught up in dissatisfaction that I fed it even more.
However, God disciplines those He loves (Proverbs 3:12) and refines them like silver (Psalm 66:10). He was not going to let me get away with my sin and pride. I stumbled across John 21:20-22 during my quiet time with God, and He enabled me to see the verses with new eyes. In John 21, Jesus reinstated and revealed to Peter that he was going to die for the sake of the gospel. Peter then asked Jesus what would happen to John, and in verse 22, Jesus answered, “If I want him [John] to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.” You must follow me. Those words are simple but yet so powerful. Who was I to whine about God’s provision? When did God’s workings in the lives of other Christians have become my business? By complaining, I was implying I knew better than God, and that the blessings He has already lavished on me weren’t enough! How silly! I had forgotten Paul’s teaching about humility in Philippians 2:3, and was blinded to see who I needed to follow. I confused the world’s definition of success and blessings to those of God’s. Once again, Jesus rescued me from falling deeper into the devil’s trap and taught me a lesson on humility. Through that, my eyes were unveiled to see how poor I am and how much I need His deliverance everyday.
Like Peter, we often lose focus of who we are following. Although it is biblical to look to stronger Christians and leaders for encouragement and example, we need to keep in mind that our eyes should ultimately be fixed on the author and perfecter of our faith (Hebrews 12:2). We must follow Jesus-not cultural trends, the media, our friends’ opinions, or even our own biases and past experiences. We must follow Jesus because He is the source of our hope and salvation. We must follow Jesus in His love, compassion, and kindness for people. We must emulate His courage, humility, perseverance, and holiness. People can discourage us, but Jesus is constant and faithful.
In our society today, following Christ becomes increasingly difficult. A lot of times the cries of this world drown out the gentle prodding and whispers of the Holy Spirit. We begin to buy into (and sometimes help spread) the lie that we are not precious and enough; that we need to try harder academically, socially, and physically to be accepted. We start to believe we are too busy to spend time in solitude, reflection, and to be immersed in God’s presence. We find our minds cluttered with thoughts of competition and comparison. Or maybe we desire to follow Jesus, but the fears of not knowing the future and not being in control choke our passions. But in spite of all this, Jesus’ intentions and command for us never change. You must follow me, he says. You must follow me even when you do not know what lies ahead. You must follow me through pains and joys alike. In everything you do and every decision you make, you must follow me.
It is in this constant process of surrendering and putting faith in Jesus that we become less and He becomes more (John 3:30), until we are soaked with the aroma of Christ. The path of the cross is arduous, but God’s promise to give us hope and a future stands firm. He wants to rain down His mercies upon His children and for us to understand His heart, and the best way for us to receive them is to follow Him. There will be times we stumble and fall, but each time as we look up again, we will see Jesus extending His hand to us, and with His eyes full of compassion, say, “Come, follow me.”
I have a friend who has the perfect life. Maybe not perfect, but she comes close with the loving and supportive Christian family, caring friends, Godly boyfriend, her growing ministry and top-notch education. I am happy for her, but needless to say, there were times when I secretly compared my life to hers and complained to God. I asked God why her Christian journey seemed much easier than mine, and thought that I definitely deserved the same, if not more, blessings from Him. After all, He must reward me my desires for all the struggles and pain I’ve endured while following Him. I knew that I was wrong to think in such a way, but sometimes I got so caught up in dissatisfaction that I fed it even more.
However, God disciplines those He loves (Proverbs 3:12) and refines them like silver (Psalm 66:10). He was not going to let me get away with my sin and pride. I stumbled across John 21:20-22 during my quiet time with God, and He enabled me to see the verses with new eyes. In John 21, Jesus reinstated and revealed to Peter that he was going to die for the sake of the gospel. Peter then asked Jesus what would happen to John, and in verse 22, Jesus answered, “If I want him [John] to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.” You must follow me. Those words are simple but yet so powerful. Who was I to whine about God’s provision? When did God’s workings in the lives of other Christians have become my business? By complaining, I was implying I knew better than God, and that the blessings He has already lavished on me weren’t enough! How silly! I had forgotten Paul’s teaching about humility in Philippians 2:3, and was blinded to see who I needed to follow. I confused the world’s definition of success and blessings to those of God’s. Once again, Jesus rescued me from falling deeper into the devil’s trap and taught me a lesson on humility. Through that, my eyes were unveiled to see how poor I am and how much I need His deliverance everyday.
Like Peter, we often lose focus of who we are following. Although it is biblical to look to stronger Christians and leaders for encouragement and example, we need to keep in mind that our eyes should ultimately be fixed on the author and perfecter of our faith (Hebrews 12:2). We must follow Jesus-not cultural trends, the media, our friends’ opinions, or even our own biases and past experiences. We must follow Jesus because He is the source of our hope and salvation. We must follow Jesus in His love, compassion, and kindness for people. We must emulate His courage, humility, perseverance, and holiness. People can discourage us, but Jesus is constant and faithful.
In our society today, following Christ becomes increasingly difficult. A lot of times the cries of this world drown out the gentle prodding and whispers of the Holy Spirit. We begin to buy into (and sometimes help spread) the lie that we are not precious and enough; that we need to try harder academically, socially, and physically to be accepted. We start to believe we are too busy to spend time in solitude, reflection, and to be immersed in God’s presence. We find our minds cluttered with thoughts of competition and comparison. Or maybe we desire to follow Jesus, but the fears of not knowing the future and not being in control choke our passions. But in spite of all this, Jesus’ intentions and command for us never change. You must follow me, he says. You must follow me even when you do not know what lies ahead. You must follow me through pains and joys alike. In everything you do and every decision you make, you must follow me.
It is in this constant process of surrendering and putting faith in Jesus that we become less and He becomes more (John 3:30), until we are soaked with the aroma of Christ. The path of the cross is arduous, but God’s promise to give us hope and a future stands firm. He wants to rain down His mercies upon His children and for us to understand His heart, and the best way for us to receive them is to follow Him. There will be times we stumble and fall, but each time as we look up again, we will see Jesus extending His hand to us, and with His eyes full of compassion, say, “Come, follow me.”