Following Christ
Following Christ | August 16, 2023
A husband and wife planned to take separate cars to a doctor's appointment because they had to go to different locations afterward. The wife, the better of the two with driving directions, led the way in the family's white minivan. As they hit the highway, the husband followed close behind. However, he soon realized something was wrong when the white minivan made an unplanned stop at a gas station, and the driver was not his wife! Apparently, he was following the wrong white minivan.
Like the husband, some people think they follow the right philosophy or religion. While they may be sincere, they are sincerely wrong if that belief system contradicts the Bible. John 1:14 states, "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth." We know from this verse and others like it that at the center of a correct belief system must be Jesus Christ and the Holy Scriptures. Any doctrine or tradition that knowingly or unknowingly adds to, takes away, or diminishes the work of Christ or God's plan of redemption is the wrong minivan!
Following the wrong belief system will produce mystical and superstitious behaviors. As a result, fear, not faith, will lead your decision-making and determine your actions. You also run the risk of stunting your spiritual growth.
Knowing this, we need to guard our hearts. Proverbs 4:23 says, "Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it." We do this by connecting to a church that accurately teaches from the Scriptures and steers clear of our day's flaky, woke ideology. We also develop spiritual disciplines like reading the Bible daily and praying. These habits, along with a few others, will help you to follow Christ.
The blessings from these choices will be extraordinary both in this life and in the life to come in heaven.
Like the husband, some people think they follow the right philosophy or religion. While they may be sincere, they are sincerely wrong if that belief system contradicts the Bible. John 1:14 states, "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth." We know from this verse and others like it that at the center of a correct belief system must be Jesus Christ and the Holy Scriptures. Any doctrine or tradition that knowingly or unknowingly adds to, takes away, or diminishes the work of Christ or God's plan of redemption is the wrong minivan!
Following the wrong belief system will produce mystical and superstitious behaviors. As a result, fear, not faith, will lead your decision-making and determine your actions. You also run the risk of stunting your spiritual growth.
Knowing this, we need to guard our hearts. Proverbs 4:23 says, "Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it." We do this by connecting to a church that accurately teaches from the Scriptures and steers clear of our day's flaky, woke ideology. We also develop spiritual disciplines like reading the Bible daily and praying. These habits, along with a few others, will help you to follow Christ.
The blessings from these choices will be extraordinary both in this life and in the life to come in heaven.
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