Being A Follower Not Just A Believer

Hey y'all! During a past Sunday service we talked about the importance of being a follower and a believer -- not just a believer. It was a message that stuck with me and I thought that it was an important one so here I am sharing my thoughts on it.

Photo courtesy of LP Photography of laurenelizabethparr.com

Anyone can say that they are a believer -- just like anyone can say that they are a follower. The legitimacy of those words though can make a huge difference in how we live out our lives.

"Anyone can say that they are a believer -- just like anyone can say that they are a follower. The legitimacy of those words though can make a huge difference in how we live out our lives."

If anyone could say that they are a believer and follower then what is the difference between someone who devotes their whole life to Him compared to someone who calls themselves a believer and follower but does not budge when it comes to actually following Him throughout everyday life?

When you choose to follow Him you have decided to do so wholeheartedly and not when it is just at your convenience. See... the Lord doesn't want your attention just 20, 50, or 80% of the time. He wants 100%. 100% of you. 100% of you in order to speak to you in your life, in order to use you in His plan, and in order for you to become more and more like Him every day.

"When you choose to follow Him you have decided to do so wholeheartedly and not when it is just at your convenience.... He wants 100% of you in order to speak to you in your life, in order to use you in His plan, and in order for you to become more and more like Him every day."

The deal is though you have to put in the effort. You have free will to follow Him or not too. He doesn't make you listen to Him or make you follow His ways but you are the only one that can choose how you want to live your life. You could do so following the Lord or letting the devil control you and depicting how you live out your life.

If you have personally given your life to Christ then you can understand me when I say this: following Jesus is the best decision you can ever make.

I don't mean just going to church on Sundays, praying over your food before meals, or sending someone the occasional "I'll be praying for you" message. I mean the wholehearted talking to Jesus regularly, listening to His words, letting His will guide your life choices (the big and small), really investing into people in the hopes of pointing others to Him and possibly even showing them the smallest amount of the love the Lord has for them. That kind of relationship. Not the do what you want but ask for help only when times get tough kind.

"I don't mean just going to church on Sundays, praying over your food before meals, or sending someone the occasional "I'll be praying for you" message. I mean the wholehearted talking to Jesus regularly, listening to His words, letting His will guide your life choices (the big and small), really investing into people in the hopes of pointing others to Him and possibly even showing them the smallest amount of the love the Lord has for them."

Believing and following the Lord is a daily relationship and a daily process of surrendering ourselves and our human desires to follow Him in all that we do. It is the constant desire to become more like Him everyday -- throughout the good and the bad.

"Believing and following the Lord is a daily relationship and a daily process of surrendering ourselves and our human desires to follow Him in all that we do."

Follow Him 100%. Give yourself to Him and see what happens. I am confident that it will result in good. Will everything be good all of the time? No. We still live in a fallen and broken world. But, through Him, you will be able to live your life to the fullest without fear of anything that the world throws your way. You will be able to walk fearlessly knowing you have a Lord and Savior with you every step of the way.

"...through Him, you will be able to live your life to the fullest without fear of anything that the world throws your way. You will be able to walk fearlessly knowing you have a Lord and Savior with you every step of the way." 

So don't just be a believer. Be a follower as well. Live your life according to His will and not your own. Wake up every morning, surrender yourself to Him (yes even the broken parts), and choose to be a follower who wants to build a relationship with the Lord and see how He can change your life. ♥


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