FAITH CAPSULE: Be steadfast following Jesus fully.

Matthew 16

Jesus was teaching when He stated, “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.” (Matthew 7:21) Does that sound like you? Are you one whose word does not line up with your walk? Do you profess Jesus but yet perfects in wickedness? You wonder who the wicked ones are. Jeremiah points out the wicked in his statement before God, “Righteous are You, O Lord, when I plead with you; yet let me talk with You about Your judgments. Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why are those happy who deal so treacherously? You have planted them, yes, they have taken root; they grow, yes, they bear fruit. You are near in their mouth but far from their mind.” (Jeremiah 12:1-2) Clearly, the wicked ones are near to God in their mouth but far from their mind.

Ones who carries the identity of the wicked does not carry the cross, such does not follow Him fully. Jesus specifically requested, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.  For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.  For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? (Matthew 16:24-26)  Whatever a man desires God will deposit. Is it your desire to follow Jesus fully? Following Jesus is not flowing with the crowd. Many are flowing with the crowd few are actually following Him fully. To follow Him fully demands to be steadfast in our walk in line with the word of God by forsaking all for the Kingdom of heaven’s sake.

One who is self-full cannot be word full. Following the word fully is following Jesus fully. Jesus is the living word of God which was in the beginning. John 1:1 buttress, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  ” Why not deny yourself; forsake all and settle for the living word of God; take up His cross and follow Him to cross over?

Following fully is not a one time or on and off engagement. Following the word demands to be steadfast which is to be fixed in direction. To be steadfast in following the living word of God is not a self-satisfying engagement and one who is self-full cannot be possibly steadfast. Kind David realized the importance and the need for one to be steadfast when he called on God in Psalm 51:10, “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” Be steadfast following Jesus fully.

Prayer for today: Ask God for the grace to be steadfast in following Christ fully.