Flounder or Follow

Luke 14:26, “If you want to be my follower you must love me more than your own father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters – yes, more than your own life. Otherwise you cannot be my disciple.”

Have you ever really pondered these words by Jesus? Do you truly feel this way, and if so would others believe you?

I was reading this chapter as part of my devotions the other day and these words really hit me. As followers we are not to succumb to the world’s standard for life, 2.5 kids and a white picket fence, but to Christ. As Erin and I are looking at the approaching date of India coming closer and closer, I start to have those little thoughts in the back of my mind. What are you doing? Why would you take your family out of the country? Is that fair to everyone who will be here that has come to depend on you?

The questions can go on and on, but the end of it is that we know this is what God wants us to do and we are committed to that no matter the cost. As scary as that can be to write or say, it is how we feel. The more we have grown in Christ the more we have longed to be in His will for our lives, though at times everything seems to fight against us. Meaning, all the earthly pleasures we currently have and become accustomed to in our lives is hard to let go of because we start to believe we deserve them this side of Heaven. Many of these conveniences we will not have in India.

Also, there is the pain of leaving the relationships we have built over the three years being in our current location. Most have been very supportive, but some that have let their negative opinion be known to others. That is the part that frustrates me the most as you try to be in the will of God.

People, who call themselves Christians, tear you down or say negative things because you are not doing what they think you should do, and instead of coming to you they tell whoever will give them an ear to hear. Some of these individuals I could care less about their opinion, but some it is really bothersome when you invest in their lives for so long and instead of celebrating what God is doing in your life they try to ruin it through destructive gossip. This type of gossip is neither Christian, nor healthy and truly needs to stop in general among believers.

Yes, you may be sad if someone leaves that you thought would be there longer, but that gives no right to try and destroy what God is doing. Instead you should be celebrating with your fellow believer, praying for them, and praising God that He is using them in any way He sees fit, even if you have to let them go.

In the end, Erin and I will follow Christ regardless of what is said if anything via gossip. I only pray that those who try to squelch the voice of God in others would wake up and see that they are sinning by trying to change what God has commanded. Our Christian walk on this earth is not easy to begin with, but it becomes twice as hard when Believers are taking the side of the world as well.

Hebrews 3:13, “But encourage each other daily, while it is still called today, so that none of you is hardened by sin’s deception.”