Why Do You Follow?

"Birds of a feather flock together," the cliche goes, and this saying has a ring of truth to it.  The birds in the trees, people with common interests, and even users of social media support this sentiment.  People using social media typically "follow" people they know, respect, or admire.  If someone begins to share or post views with which others do not agree or strongly oppose, they can "unfollow" or even "unfriend" that person.  Social media provides the illusion of friendship, and it is frankly difficult ground to navigate.  It can consume time with meaningless activity, yet when used properly can be a beneficial tool.  It can be an addictive obsession or a voyeurs delight, but also a means to connect lives of loved ones.  Knowing why we do something is often more insightful than what or how we do it.

As a follower of Jesus Christ, I am aware my beliefs, lifestyle, and stance on issues are contrary to the majority.  Should my "likes" of Bible verses or praise to God show up on the feeds of others, I am sure there are some who have "unfollowed" me.  I have "unfollowed" pages or others at times, having become weary of my news feed being spammed by those who enjoy one word status updates by the minute, vulgarities, those who chastise their children publicly, or those who resort to using Facebook as free advertising for business, seeing their "friends" as potential business targets - something I personally find distasteful.  Depending on what function Facebook or social media serves in your case, it will impact your decisions on who or why you follow others.

I recognise many people we connect with on social media are not as interested in our personal beliefs as they are in who we are to them and how we are doing.  Having moved internationally Facebook keeps me connected with family and friends all over the world.  Based upon the articles, memes, and thoughts shared or posted by others, a small window of insight is opened into how others think or feel.  Even this is not a clear view, for what we see is obscured by the fact we only are shown what they want us to see!  When someone has a view or belief which conflicts with your own, a view that you oppose strongly, what do you do?  Do you "unfollow" the person while remaining their friend?  Should we make a practice of this, we segregate our friends and followers into a little clique we are comfortable with.  Instead of challenging us, we can order everything to affirm our confirmation bias and we will not learn, grow, or progress as we could.  If someone says something we don't like and persists in their belief, we might be tempted to cut them off - and effectively cut ourselves off from redemptive opportunities to connect with them.  Granted, email or Facebook is not an ideal way to have a heart to heart conversation or iron out differences.  But staying connected demonstrates you care, and that gives your words a chance to minister to others.

It is challenging to keep loving those who hate you, and it is difficult to be bombarded with views contrary to scripture.  Remember, Jesus was hated before Christians were!  Jesus did not avoid those who disagreed with Him.  He went out into the world!  He didn't only reserve time or energy for people who agreed perfectly with Him.  Jesus stood His ground and spoke the truth, and it was the decision of others if they would follow Him or not.  For those who continue to only follow Jesus in our lives and beliefs, we can be led by the Spirit when it is good for us to be silent or to speak.  I am not saying to beat people with the Bible, write or post unkind and insensitive things, or try to start quarrels.  For me it is good for me to be challenged with unbelief, vitriol, scriptural ignorance, and emotionally-fueled hatred of people who do not know God so I might seek God's answer and pray for them.  I have learned a lot from people I do not agree with, and so can you.  If someone's divergent beliefs begins to sour our view of them, let me gently say we are not loving them as we should.  Love does not grow bitter, impatient, or frustrated with others, and keeps no record of wrongs.  Love rejoices in the truth, and is bold to speak the truth at the right time in the right way for the right reasons.

Who do you follow, and why do you follow them?  As you follow Jesus, are you following others for yourself or the glory of God?  1 Peter 2:17-24 reads, "Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king. ¹⁸ Servants, be submissive to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the harsh. ¹⁹ For this is commendable, if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully. ²⁰ For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God. ²¹ For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: ²² "Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth"; ²³ who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously; ²⁴ who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness--by whose stripes you were healed."  If we speak the truth in love or do good and suffer, we are following in Christ's steps when we remain faithful.  Despite pitfalls and snares, the internet has opened up a world of opportunity God can redeem, a digital mission field where hearts can be won for Jesus Christ by His grace and power.  As we follow Jesus, let's introduce Him to others.

Only Jesus can Transform

"Though you grind a fool in a mortar with a pestle along with crushed grain, yet his foolishness will not depart from him."

Proverbs 27:22 

When I heard shocking and sad news from Israel recently, this verse came to mind.  It was reported that during a Gay Pride Parade in Jerusalem a man armed with a knife stabbed several participants.  What made the news more terrible was this same man had been convicted of doing the exact same thing over a decade ago when he stabbed three people during a Gay Pride event.  The man had paid the price the law demanded with 10 years imprisonment, yet all that time in prison was incapable of transforming his heart.  This is an extreme case to be sure, but it affirms the Word of God:  the severest punishments are incapable of separating a fool from his folly.  That is something only God can do.  Imprison a coward who stabbed unarmed people in the back for 30 years if you like, but it won't change his heart.

I knew a co-worker years ago who also spent a fair amount of time in prison.  In his words, it was not guilt over his illegal activities which straightened him out, but the loss of freedom and separation from his family which motivated him.  The perceived positives of his lifestyle began to be drowned out by negative ones.  Basically, his life of sin became increasingly inconvenient.  His heart was the same, but he worked at changing his behaviour.  Incarceration had not rehabilitated the man, though his behaviour might contribute to a statistic which would support the effectiveness of the justice system to reform criminals.  The folly was still there, and the experience of being locked up made him a bit more savvy with chances he was willing to take.  It takes much more than time or a little elbow grease to separate a fool from folly.  All animals act consistently according to their nature with predictable instincts and behaviours, and people are much the same.  Try to teach a dog to be a human being all you like, but he will retain the distinct nature of dog.  Dress him up in clothes, send him to kindergarten, force him to walk on his hind legs, but his nature will remain unchanged.  In the same way, men born of the flesh live for the flesh, and only those born again by the Holy Spirit through faith in Christ have new hearts capable of comprehending and walking in God's wisdom.

Foolishness will never willingly depart from a fool.  The biblical definition of a "fool" is one who denies the existence of God or lives without regard to Him or His judgments.  It is written in Psalm 14:1, "The fool has said in his heart, "There is no God." They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none who does good."  Conversely, those who are wise in God's eyes are those who hear the words of Jesus Christ and obey them (Matthew 7:24).  Only Jesus Christ has the power to make people new creations through the Gospel.  We who were once foolish, separated from God because of sin, by nature children of wrath, have been brought near to God through the shed blood of Christ applied to our hearts by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:1-10).  Even after we come to Jesus Christ and are given a new nature, the foolishness of our flesh will not willingly depart.  We must be willing and determine with God's ever-present help to put it off and depart from it. 

Galatians 5:19-26 says, "Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, ²⁰ idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, ²¹ envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. ²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. ²⁴ And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. ²⁵ If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. ²⁶ Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another."  God does not even attempt to reform men.  He knows the only way to gain the victory over the flesh is to kill it, to reckon ourselves dead to sin and alive to God.  Walking in the Spirit keeps us from fulfilling the lusts of our natural flesh.  When we crucify the flesh in humble contrition and repentance, trusting in Christ, we are benefactors of His life risen in glory.

What evidence does your life present:  the works of the flesh, or the fruit of the Spirit?  Praise God for the power, deliverance, redemption, and the transforming work He does for all those who trust and cooperate with Him.  Sin and foolishness cannot be separated from our original nature, but Jesus is the One who makes all things new.

Seek Jesus Where He Is

Imagine thinking Jesus was with you and being mistaken!  To say it would be disconcerting would be an understatement.  This is exactly what happened to Joseph and Mary after celebrating the Passover with Jesus in Jerusalem.  Luke 2:43-44 says, "When they had finished the days, as they returned, the Boy Jesus lingered behind in Jerusalem. And Joseph and His mother did not know it; ⁴⁴ but supposing Him to have been in the company, they went a day's journey, and sought Him among their relatives and acquaintances."  Joseph and His mother journeyed for an entire day, supposing Jesus was with them, but the distance between them grew with every step they took.

We understand how people can be physically separated from others, but we must consider the reality that even those who believe in Jesus can also be separated from Him.  Thousands in Israel did not know Jesus, and they did not miss Him.  Even his parents did not miss Him for a day.  Is this not a sobering fact?  His own parents assumed Jesus was with them, and we can think in our efforts to please God Jesus must be with us when we have walked away from Him.  Believing in Jesus does not mean He tags along with us.  He is the Good Shepherd, and we are the sheep.  We are called to abide with Him.  Reversing this order is a great danger indeed!

When Joseph and Mary discovered Jesus was not with them, they immediately sought Him.  Luke 2:45 reads, "So when they did not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem, seeking Him."  What a good example this is for Christians, followers of Jesus Christ!  Should we realise Jesus isn't with us, we need to stop, lay aside our plans, and drop everything to seek Him.  We can toil in a ministry, thinking by virtue of our effort Jesus must be with us.  But sometimes we have moved away from where Jesus is, following family, a schedule, or the crowds.  If we ever make the mistake of wandering from the presence of Jesus, let's retrace our steps to find Jesus again without giving up.

God said in Jeremiah 29:13, "And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart."  Those who humble themselves, trusting in Jesus, will find Him.  Jesus revealed Himself as the Son of God so He might be believed and save sinners, people who have been separated from God by sin.  Praise the LORD that He may be found!  Isaiah 55:6-7 says, "Seek the LORD while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near. ⁷ Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, and He will have mercy on him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon."

Feeling Unappreciated?

Do you sometimes feel unappreciated?  When we feel unappreciated, the tendency towards bitterness, resentment, and ultimately inaction is a natural slide.  We can fall into the trap of measuring the usefulness of our deeds based upon the response we receive from others.  Did Jesus embrace the cross because He knew some might appreciate it?  No!  The lack of "appreciation" expressed by others didn't enter into His decision.  He shed His blood knowing most people wouldn't appreciate or appropriate it!  God had prepared a good work to enter into through sacrifice, and Jesus was obedient and faithful to see it through regardless of how much others appreciated it.

I don't always feel appreciated.  Just yesterday I was feeling like my efforts to help others were not appreciated or being recognised at all.  But as I examined my feelings according to scripture, I realised I was looking to the response of others to encourage me to serve when my eyes ought to be fixed on Jesus.  "I don't feel appreciated, God." I said to Him.  At that moment I felt as if God smiled upon me and said, "I still love you."  That little word made all the difference.  Even if I wasn't appreciated at all by others, I was still loved by God.  When God's love for me is my motive in serving Him and others, what profound joy we can experience!  Too often we substitute the appreciation of others for the love of God, and it is we who rob ourselves of the joy and strength we need to endure times of difficulty.

So instead of looking for signs of appreciation or affirmation from others in doing good, recognise and respond to the love of God demonstrated for you.  Even if no one notices or seems to care about the sacrifices you make, God still loves you.  And if this doesn't warm your heart and bring a smile to your face, may God open your eyes and heart to receive His love.  Improperly received or over-valued appreciation by others is a thief that robs God of glory.  When we don't feel appreciated by others, it provides deeper channels for us to draw upon the love of God.  How good it is therefore to feel unappreciated and remain obedient!  Man's praise quickly fades, but the joy of the LORD endures forever.