What does it really mean?

““Does it make you a king to have more and more cedar? Did not your father have food and drink? He did what was right and just, so all went well with him. He defended the cause of the poor and needy, and so all went well. Is that not what it means to know me?” declares the Lord.”Jeremiah 22:15-16 NIV.  http://bible.com/111/jer.22.15-16.niv

These verses remind me what being a follower of Christ is all about. What does it REALLY mean to know the Lord? Am I a great Christian because I pray, read my bible, and worship? Am I a great follower because I go to church every Sunday? I think the answer is an obvious NO. So what defines me as a follower? 

We are called to serve, to pursue justice, and lift the poor and needy. Sitting in a church pew, quietly reading the word, or praying for yourself do not fullfill the action the Lord requires. Our calling is to serve? It is a constant battle of our sinful nature to focus on others over ourselves. It is difficult to pursue justice and fairness without the influence of selfishness and bias. Our political correct society doesn't always support what is TRULY right. Yes, worship, prayer, and studying the word are critical. But, those things without justice, service, and action means nothing. We can't have one without the other.

Dear Lord, forgive me for focusing my life on myself. Guide me into action. Help me to respond to the needs of others and show your love to all people I meet with every day, even the unloveable. Amen.

Undefeated

“But the LORD stands beside me like a great warrior. Before him my persecutors will stumble. They cannot defeat me. They will fail and be thoroughly humiliated. Their dishonor will never be forgotten.” Jeremiah 20:11 NLT. http://bible.com/116/jer.20.11.nlt

I am undefeated.

I  am a Miami Dolphin football fan. The Dolphins are the only team in NFL history to go undefeated during the entire season all the way through the Super Bowl. It's a feat others have come close to but no one has matched. It's so difficult in any sport, at any level to finish the season undefeated.

I am undefeated. I'm 56 years old. I've been a follower of Christ for 44 years. My Lord is in control of my life. I have struggled with life's challenges, I have had to overcome adversity and traversed a multitude of obstacles. I have always come out victorious. I have always seen the guiding hand of God and his warrior angels at the ready to defend me. They have rescued me from real evil. It's the power of Jesus that  keeps my perfect record intact. Jesus perfects my life through his wonderful grace, mercy, and peace. 

Praise the Lord that I am protected from all evil. I praise the Lord that I am forever and always victorious in Christ.

No Apologies

“The people say, “Our wickedness has caught up with us, LORD, but help us for the sake of your own reputation. We have turned away from you and sinned against you again and again.”

Jeremiah 14:7 NLT. http://bible.com/116/jer.14.7.nlt

We are the cause of our own destruction. The human race is caught up in its own wickedness, it's own perversion, and it's own selfish/sinful desires. We have sinned against God again, and again. It is not surprising to see the rampant destruction, persecution of believers, and the anarchy that surrounds us. We can not continue to avoid the consequences of living a life without Jesus. I am so amazed by these verses in that they at tempt to coerce the Oord to rescue us through his own reputation. It's sad that God's standing in this world is tied to our sinfulness.

Christians rise up! Fight for the souls of the lost. Boldness is demanded! Serve the Lord openly with strength and power. No apologies, no meekness, no political correctness. Serve the Lord because the kingdom is an hand! We are representing the Lord. His reputation is tied to our actions. We must be in constant prayer for guidance and protection in our war against the evils of this world. We can not avoid this battle. We need to engage the enemy immediately.

Losing control

“Can any of the worthless foreign gods send us rain? Does it fall from the sky by itself? No, you are the one, O LORD our God! Only you can do such things. So we will wait for you to help us.” Jeremiah 14:22 NLT http://bible.com/116/jer.14.22.nlt

I believe my God created the universe. He is in control of all things, yet he has given up much of that control to us. But there are dome things we can just not do. We cant bring rain, we can't control the rising and setting of the son. We can not prevent death, although we constantly try. We can not create. Only my wonderful loving God creates. That power, that strength, in the midst of mercy and grace completely describe my faith. God has the power to control all things yet he has given us free will. He will not interfere unless we ask him to. That power and freedom have drawn me to him. So, I yield back control of my life. 

I have turned control of my life back to the Lord. I need to do this act daily. My sinful nature wants to take control. I'm not good at being in control of my life. The Lord is. I praise him for 44 years in control of my life. I could never have designed such a delightful life. Praise Hod for his faithfulness, his wisdom, his power, and his plan. Amen!

Fear

““I will scatter you like chaff driven by the desert wind. This is your lot, the portion I have decreed for you,” declares the Lord, “because you have forgotten me and trusted in false gods.”

Jeremiah 13:24-25 NIV

http://bible.com/111/jer.13.24-25.niv

It's not easy to talk about your fears. I don't have many. I'm not afraid of snakes. I'm not afraid of spiders, I'm not afraid of storms. I don't have many fears because the Lord is in charge of my life. I trust him completely. As I read the bible how the people of the Lord forgot about him and abandon him and then were punished, I fear doing that myself. It might be irrational, I know my Lord will not leave me. But, will I abandon the Lord? I've been with the Lord for over 44 years of my life as a servant and a follower. I have also fallen away at times in those same years. I have not always been faithful and yet I have not been punished. I have not been abandon. There have been many times I should have been. I don't fear the Lord because he is more than just. I fear myself and the sinful nature that lives inside. So, what do I do? How do I deal with this irrational fear? My strategy is simple. I deal with the fear of my own thoughts and deeds by co tinting to draw closer to the Lord. I study his word. I pray to him and surround myself with people that love the Lord.

My sinful nature is still inside me. With the help of the power of the creator of the universe I will overcome and defeat the sinful nature that lives inside. I can not do I without the Lord. My fears are gone when I am with the Lord. So I spend all the time I can with him.