Need # 5 Turn to
Jesus
As I'm thinking on this next Need #
5" Turn to Jesus” I started watching a movie called “Not a Fan" on
Pure Flix. It’s sort of a devotional movie. I had forgotten what the book Not a
Fan was about. As the movie played I realized it’s about the topic I'm starting
to look at. So, it's playing in the back ground as I sit here organizing my
thoughts.
Turning to Jesus many will say I have turned
to Jesus (Turning =Following). Many believe in Jesus, how many FOLLOW
JESUS. Why do we need to turn to
Jesus? Some will say because were all sinner's That is correct, as stated in
Romans 3:10 as it is written:
“None is righteous, no, not one;
11 no one understands;
no one seeks for God.
12 All have turned aside; together
they have become worthless;
no one does good,
not even one.”
Some will say because he died for
us, he paid the penalty for our sins. That is also correct. 1Peter2:24 He
himself (Jesus)bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die
to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds, you have been
healed.
I would like to keep this in context with
other scripture in the bible. The bible in my thinking is its best commentary.
What are we healed from? Before I answer that question let’s look at another
companion scripture Isaiah 53:5
5 But he was pierced for our
transgressions;
he was crushed for our iniquities;
upon him was the chastisement
that brought us peace,
and with his wounds we are
healed.
In 1st Peter it mentions he Bore
our sins, In Isaiah it mentions transgressions, and iniquities, Both end with by
his wound's we are healed. From what???? The penalty that we should
suffer for our sins Jesus suffered in our stead that is in our place, so that
we might not have to suffer the penalty of our sin and are able to live
righteous. The chastisement he suffered was to bring us peace, so yes, we need
Jesus. For without him we would be required to suffer the penalty
of our own sins. What I'm not saying, and I want to be clear here. So as Dr,
Charles Stanley would say " Now Listen up" .There are consequences
in the here and now world for our sins. There is probably a reaction to our
sinful action that we may need to deal with during our time in this world. I'm
speaking of being healed of the penalty for our sins in our eternity. After we
die. We are forgiven here and now by God because of what Jesus did, and don't
serve the penalty for our sins in
eternity.
I do want to make a statement on eternal
security. Some may read my comments above and think I advocate for eternal
security or also known as once saved always saved. That would not be a correct assumption.
I am not a proponent of OSAS nor am I a proponent of the ability to lose your
salvation. I think there is sufficient scripture to support both views. Your
fruit or actions dare I say it your works will be the evidence of your faith
I like how the Waymouth New
Testament puts it. James 2:22You see that faith was active along with his
works, and faith was completed by his works; Does the evidence of your
life show that you have faith. If the evidence shows faith, then do you have
salvation? I'm going to leave that question open ended and just let you dwell
on that thought.
As the book "Not A Fan " are you a fan of Jesus you believe in
him and go to church but that's about it. At work, he is not there with, you
leave him at home. You just take Jesus to church. Or are you a player, a follower,
a participant, I named this need as: Need to turn to Jesus" I'm also going
to add and follow Jesus.
Luke 9:23 And he said to all, “If anyone would
come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and
follow me.
Deny himself Refers to setting aside one’s interests for
the sake of God’s kingdom. Take up his cross every day Jesus’
disciples must be willing to follow Him every day, no matter what
the cost.
Are you willing to deny yourself,
are you willing to set aside your interest, are you willing to take
up his cross, and are you willing to follow him no
matter the cost?
Matthew 10:38 And whoever does not take
his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.
Jesus’ words here foreshadow His
death and call on His followers to identify themselves fully with Him, to the
point of being willing to die as He did. Are you willing to live for him
in his humility?
Matthew 19: 21 Jesus said to him,
“If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor,
and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” 22 When the
young man heard this he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.
In Matthew 19:21 perfect Describes being
complete or mature.
sell your possessions Jesus sees the
young man’s attachment to his possessions as a hindrance to faith. He
commands the man to rid himself of whatever prevents him from making a total
commitment to the kingdom of heaven.
Jesus’ instructions suggest that the
man has not truly kept the commandments, beginning with the first one—the
command to have no other gods except Yahweh
There are some people who have
trusted in Jesus Christ as their Savior, but do little to act on their belief
(James 1:27; 2:14–26). Others actively follow Christ: They live as true
disciples, passionately pursuing the Lord’s will in all things. These are the
ones who take their relationship with Christ seriously.
Ask yourself: Are you merely a
believer or actually a follower of Jesus? Trusting in Jesus Christ is
fundamental, but it’s only the first step. Living in and seeking out the
Kingdom of God.
Your primary purpose is to take a lifelong
journey following in the Lord’s footsteps—honoring Him with your actions and
speech and increasing in biblical wisdom.
A Christ follower’s life is summed
up in the phrase, “Complete obedience.” In fact, Jesus defined true Christians
as those who prove (prove = to give evidence for) their love for
Him by obeying His teaching (John 14:23)
.Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he
will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to
him and make our home with him
.
When it comes to obeying God, our only
response is I will or I won’t. It’s tempting to say, “I will, but …” as some of
Jesus’ would-be disciples did, but that’s a roundabout way of saying no (Luke
9:57–62). Some are on the fence when it comes to Jesus, but the problem there
is Satan owns the fence.
57 As they were going along the road, someone
said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” 58 And Jesus said to him,
“Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has
nowhere to lay his head.” 59 To another he said, “Follow me.” But he said,
“Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” 60 And Jesus[a] said to him, “Leave
the dead to bury their own dead. But as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of
God.” 61 Yet another said, “I will follow you, Lord, but let me first say
farewell to those at my home.” 62 Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand
to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”
Followers remain faithful to the Lord’s
plan whether doing so is easy or hard. Not only that, but they proclaim
Him in both blessing and calamity, and they follow Him even when
they are uncertain where He is leading.
What is it in your life that is keeping you from
being just a fan to a player in your life as a Christian.??
I've written about 5 Needs that I
think Christians are called to do if you desire to serve God and build on the
relationship you can have with him through his son Jesus and the sacrifices he
made and, Through the guidance of the Holy spirit who live in you.
The 5 Needs
1 Need To Take God Seriously
2 Need To Humble Yourself
3 Need To Pray
4 Need To Study Gods Word
5 Need To Turn To Jesus And Follow
Him
There may be more needs than what
I've written about, these are not in order of what’s most important. Start with
these Needs if you desire to have a fulfilling relationship With God.
God Bless
By Russ Kujawski
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