Five-minute read.
Do I not hate those who hate you, Lord, And abhor those who are in rebellion against you?
Psalm 139:21
Faithful follower.
Loyalty to God makes David shun those who hate the Lord. Devotion requires commitment. As a devoted wife, I commit to love my husband every day, rain or shine. When he pets my peeves, I respond gracefully to the best of my ability. If someone questions Ron or goes against him, I have his back. Pledging my life to Ron as his wife made me his biggest cheerleader, and he takes second priority only to God. As a faithful follower, committing my life to the Lord, He comes first, even before my husband.
People miss the beauty of prioritizing God in their lives. Making the Lord first in my life helps me love Ron and others better, creating healthier relationships. Because God loves me, I can love others. Without the Lord’s unconditional affection, I wouldn’t know how to care for others. Jesus’ sacrificial life, death, and resurrection happened because of His love for humanity. Christ shows us how to love others because He first loved us.
I wouldn’t know how to forgive if God hadn’t forgiven me first. When someone irritates me, like the cashier who chatted aimlessly with another employee ignoring the line, I think about the divine grace I received from Jesus. Capturing the negative thoughts in my mind, I make them obedient to Christ by remembering my forgiven sins. My heart softens as I focus on God’s grace for me and the cashier; the Lord excludes no one. People choose to live without God.
Like those who hate the Lord, and people do hate God. Look at our world today; people despise their Creator and want nothing to do with Him. As much as things have changed since Jesus walked the Earth, some things remain the same. Letting Barrabas go, the crowd chose to crucify Christ instead, not an act born of love. We must choose who we will follow: the world or Jesus.
“You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore, whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.” James 4:4
When James talks about the world, he means people’s desire for pleasure. Adulterous refers to people’s spiritual unfaithfulness. Faithfulness to the Lord often means going against our fleshly desires. In my flesh, I would like to reprimand the annoying cashier, but my devotion to God causes me to change my thinking and extend grace instead. Following Jesus changes our thinking, putting God and others before our desires. Day in and day out, we must choose who we will follow: the Lord or the world. Some days, I do better than others, but thankfully, with God’s grace, I get to try again each day.
Faithfully following the Lord happens one day at a time. Each morning, God has new mercies for us. We can accept forgiveness for the sins of yesterday, receive correction, and grow as we apply Christ’s teachings to our lives.
Application:
Daily journey.
Recently, I watched the Netflix series Maid.[i] Based on a novel, the story of a single mom escaping an abusive relationship had many ups and downs. In the end, she describes her happiest day, which has yet to happen. The young mom tells of the long climb she will take with her daughter to the top of a particular mountain, overcoming difficulties and persevering until they reach the pinnacle.
As I listened to the monologue, I thought of its truth. We all have a mountain to climb, with obstacles to overcome. Following Jesus up the steep incline of life faithfully helps us beat our challenges and brings others along as we introduce them to Christ. Showing others how God works in our lives gives them hope that He can do the same for them.
Faithfully following Jesus not only helps us persevere but shows others how they can as well.
Journaling Questions:
- What worldly desires challenge your faithfulness to God?
- What obstacles do you need the Lord’s help with today?
- How can you become more faithful to God?
Prayer:
Lord, forgive us for succumbing to worldly desires. Strengthen our faith as we loyally follow You. Help us overcome today’s struggles as we place our trust in You. Let us share Your love with others, introducing them to Your grace and mercy. Allow us to reach the top of the mountain, one step at a time. IJNIP. Amen
