Follower of One : Missions For The Rest Of Us

God calls us to love others. He doesn’t want us to simply be a “Sunday Christian.” Whether at home or work, we’re to live out our faith every day. But practically speaking, what does that look like? Listen to Sam Morrison share about how God created us to be in relationship with Him and with others. Her personal experiences have pointed her to Christ and learning how to live for Him. 

Find out how her involvement with Follower of One has helped her connect with others on a deeper level. Learn how God is using her to make a difference in the lives of people around her and find out how you can make a difference in your world today. 

Would you say the joy of the Holy Spirit marks your daily life? How are you at work? Could it be that your primary objective is to stay out of trouble? Mike talked about how his goal was to stay out of trouble most days. He didn’t want to do anything that would make Jesus look bad. He was just trying to get through life. Do you have a goal for your spiritual walk? Are you trying to do anything because you follow Jesus?

Do you have goals for your faith and is your life tracking toward those goals? Without goals, without some direction for our lives, we live a life of trying to avoid difficulty. The absence of misery isn’t a very worthwhile goal. Neither is 5:00 PM on Friday.

Your joy in Christ will be related to your goals. Think about where you would like to be spiritually. What would you like to see Jesus do in your career and family? Would you like the joy of worship to extend into your work week? Ask God to show you how to follow him on a moment-by-moment basis and then do what he says. And you will experience more of his joy. You will see him working in your life and the life of others around you and you will be continually filled with joy. Try it out today!

Would you say the joy of the Holy Spirit marks your daily life? How are you at work? Could it be that your primary objective is to stay out of trouble? Mike talked about how his goal was to stay out of trouble most days. He didn’t want to do anything that would make Jesus look bad. He was just trying to get through life. Do you have a goal for your spiritual walk? Are you trying to do anything because you follow Jesus?

Do you have goals for your faith and is your life tracking toward those goals? Without goals, without some direction for our lives, we live a life of trying to avoid difficulty. The absence of misery isn’t a very worthwhile goal. Neither is 5:00 PM on Friday.

Your joy in Christ will be related to your goals. Think about where you would like to be spiritually. What would you like to see Jesus do in your career and family? Would you like the joy of worship to extend into your work week? Ask God to show you how to follow him on a moment-by-moment basis and then do what he says. And you will experience more of his joy. You will see him working in your life and the life of others around you and you will be continually filled with joy. Try it out today!

In the New Year, as people who follow Jesus, how are we to approach our jobs? Is our job just backdrop for our ministry, or should we treat our work as service to Jesus?

This passage is at the beginning of a few chapters of encouragement that God is giving the Jews. They’ve just been taken into captivity to Babylon. Some say these passages don’t apply to Christians today, and maybe they’re correct. I believe they do apply. This is not our home. We belong somewhere else. However today, we’re ambassadors. We represent Jesus. And just like the Jews of that day, I believe these words are for us.

We should seek the welfare of the city where we are assigned, and pray to the Lord on its behalf. You know when someone else is with you. We realize when we’re more committed to the success of an effort than our team members, and vice versa. If we long to get back out to our friends at church, more than we long to be part of the success of those we work with, we send a signal. We tell them they’re not as important to us.

Do you pray for your city or your employer? Do you work for the best of those in your workplace or community? Do we look like tourists, or are we part of the place where we work?

In the New Year, as people who follow Jesus, how are we to approach our jobs? Is our job just backdrop for our ministry, or should we treat our work as service to Jesus?

This passage is at the beginning of a few chapters of encouragement that God is giving the Jews. They’ve just been taken into captivity to Babylon. Some say these passages don’t apply to Christians today, and maybe they’re correct. I believe they do apply. This is not our home. We belong somewhere else. However today, we’re ambassadors. We represent Jesus. And just like the Jews of that day, I believe these words are for us.

We should seek the welfare of the city where we are assigned, and pray to the Lord on its behalf. You know when someone else is with you. We realize when we’re more committed to the success of an effort than our team members, and vice versa. If we long to get back out to our friends at church, more than we long to be part of the success of those we work with, we send a signal. We tell them they’re not as important to us.

Do you pray for your city or your employer? Do you work for the best of those in your workplace or community? Do we look like tourists, or are we part of the place where we work?

Today’s podcast is a continuation of the armor of God from Ephesians 6. Specifically, our focus today is from Ephesians 6:15, “And having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace.”

While there are varying thoughts on what Paul was talking about in that verse, we can image that he was probably chained or handcuffed to a Roman guard during this time. He is looking at the guard and the armor the Roman guard is wearing while creating analogies to his faith.

Furthermore, one translation references Isaiah 52:7 which states, “How lovely on the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who announces peace and brings good news of happiness, who announces salvation, and says to Zion, “Your God reigns!”. The good news of our faith prepares us. We need to be able to explain the good news to people.

Paul is challenging us to be prepared and to understand the gospel. Our feet are our foundation and are necessary in order to stand firm. We must have good shoes for our feet just like the rest of the armor that is needed for us to wear. Our feet need to be prepared for battle in the same way we need to be prepared with the gospel. Paul is encouraging us to be prepared and ready to take action with the gospel at all times.

We must learn to connect the gospel to our actions, to our life, and to our witness. Our preparation and our foundation allow us to share the good news. This good news is the good news of peace. The good news tells of how our relationship with God has been restored.

Think about why you believe in Jesus and how you can explain to someone else the reason you live differently. Live your life in such a way that people ask about why you live that way. Let the gospel invade your life. Let the gospel be the reason you go out of your way to serve others. Go beyond your job description so people will ask you why you live differently and why you follow Jesus.

Today’s podcast is a continuation of the armor of God from Ephesians 6. Specifically, our focus today is from Ephesians 6:15, “And having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace.”

While there are varying thoughts on what Paul was talking about in that verse, we can image that he was probably chained or handcuffed to a Roman guard during this time. He is looking at the guard and the armor the Roman guard is wearing while creating analogies to his faith.

Furthermore, one translation references Isaiah 52:7 which states, “How lovely on the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who announces peace and brings good news of happiness, who announces salvation, and says to Zion, “Your God reigns!”. The good news of our faith prepares us. We need to be able to explain the good news to people.

Paul is challenging us to be prepared and to understand the gospel. Our feet are our foundation and are necessary in order to stand firm. We must have good shoes for our feet just like the rest of the armor that is needed for us to wear. Our feet need to be prepared for battle in the same way we need to be prepared with the gospel. Paul is encouraging us to be prepared and ready to take action with the gospel at all times.

We must learn to connect the gospel to our actions, to our life, and to our witness. Our preparation and our foundation allow us to share the good news. This good news is the good news of peace. The good news tells of how our relationship with God has been restored.

Think about why you believe in Jesus and how you can explain to someone else the reason you live differently. Live your life in such a way that people ask about why you live that way. Let the gospel invade your life. Let the gospel be the reason you go out of your way to serve others. Go beyond your job description so people will ask you why you live differently and why you follow Jesus.

Yesterday, we talked about who we’re supposed to love. In my reading this morning, I came across this section of scripture. When we love those who love us, we have our reward. Anyone can love those who love us. We like the most of the people who appreciate us. I think this challenge in the latter part of Matthew 5 doesn’t contradict 1 John at all, because, like I said yesterday, I believe the term translated “brother” in that verse means “fellow man.” Here Jesus tells us that we must love those who don’t love us. Every act demonstrated by the life of Jesus backs up that claim. Scripture calls us to love people who don’t love us.

When Jesus washed the disciples feet, notice that Judas was included. Judas didn’t leave to betray Jesus until after Jesus washed everyone’s feet and gave his lesson (See John 13:27). We’re clearly called to love people who don’t love us. This is one of the key ways Jesus becomes visible in our world. If we content or battle with our enemies all the time, we don’t glorify Jesus. We glorify ourselves and our beliefs and our ideas. But when we lay down our ideas and our arguments and serve our enemies, Jesus becomes visible.

Who do you need to serve today? Who do you know that might have something against you? Are you willing to ask Jesus to show you how you can grow your love for them? Remember, we’re not talking about the emotion. We’re talking about love that seeks the best for the other person. We love them by doing what’s best for them. If you can’t do anything else, you can pray and ask God to give you ideas of ways to serve them. Act on behalf of someone who is not your first choice today.

Yesterday, we talked about who we’re supposed to love. In my reading this morning, I came across this section of scripture. When we love those who love us, we have our reward. Anyone can love those who love us. We like the most of the people who appreciate us. I think this challenge in the latter part of Matthew 5 doesn’t contradict 1 John at all, because, like I said yesterday, I believe the term translated “brother” in that verse means “fellow man.” Here Jesus tells us that we must love those who don’t love us. Every act demonstrated by the life of Jesus backs up that claim. Scripture calls us to love people who don’t love us.

When Jesus washed the disciples feet, notice that Judas was included. Judas didn’t leave to betray Jesus until after Jesus washed everyone’s feet and gave his lesson (See John 13:27). We’re clearly called to love people who don’t love us. This is one of the key ways Jesus becomes visible in our world. If we content or battle with our enemies all the time, we don’t glorify Jesus. We glorify ourselves and our beliefs and our ideas. But when we lay down our ideas and our arguments and serve our enemies, Jesus becomes visible.

Who do you need to serve today? Who do you know that might have something against you? Are you willing to ask Jesus to show you how you can grow your love for them? Remember, we’re not talking about the emotion. We’re talking about love that seeks the best for the other person. We love them by doing what’s best for them. If you can’t do anything else, you can pray and ask God to give you ideas of ways to serve them. Act on behalf of someone who is not your first choice today.

In Jesus time, the first born had all the special rites. He was the leader of the next generation. He received 2 times what any other sibling received from the parents. He continued the family name and tradition. Everything about the family rested on the firstborn.

On New Year’s Day, let’s remember who we follow. Our job is to obey Him. Listening to Him is so hard. Often doing what He says seems harder. In Matthew 11:28-30 Jesus reminds us that his yoke is easy. He doesn’t leave us alone. He provides the energy and the resources. We work alongside him and he will not fail, fall short, or lose.

But if you don’t hear anything from him, do your job well. We have that command in scripture, too. Whatever you job is, know that your job is part of His plan. You’re a minister as an accountant, as a business analyst, speech therapist, Realtor, or in job transition.

Let the promise of His glory give you hope this year. He has overcome and He will accomplish His work. Our job? Let’s remember He is first. Let’s listen to what He says and focus on what we can do rather than what we can’t do. Obey Jesus and trust Him today. As we follow Him, He will accomplish his will in our marketplace every day.