Prayer – Lord, You are perfect. It’s hard to follow perfection—to be like You—but our Heavenly Father has called us humans to do good and follow Your example. Help me to do just that. To follow in Your footsteps.
For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you. He is your example, and you must follow in his steps. He never sinned, nor ever deceived anyone. He did not retaliate when he was insulted, nor threaten revenge when he suffered. He left his case in the hands of God, who always judges fairly. He personally carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. By his wounds you are healed. Once you were like sheep who wandered away. But now you have turned to your Shepherd, the Guardian of your souls. 1 Peter 2:21-25
Meditate. Read God’s word and listen to what He is saying.
 |
| Fishing with a net on the Sea of Galilee. Israel |
One day as Jesus was
walking along the shore of the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers—Simon, also
called Peter, and Andrew—throwing a net into the water, for they fished for a
living. Jesus called out to them, "Come, follow me, and I will show you
how to fish for people!" And they left their nets at once and followed
him. Matthew 4:18-20
Jesus Christ never sinned—although He was tempted just like we are. Never sinned! We can only wish that we could attain that. Never deceived anyone. Wow—that would mean that we can trust all the words of Christ that we read—He didn’t, hasn’t and won’t lie. Can everyone trust what you say and do? I think that I could rate myself pretty high on that. I repented of any deception—including lying—when I became a Christian—actually when I rededicated my life to Christ. It took me a couple of tries to get the whole “do good” thing of Christianity right, even though I’d been going to church all my life. Christ did a miraculously wonderful thing by going to the cross—taking all of our sins on Himself—so we wouldn’t have to die spiritually. We have been rescued and redeemed. He is the guardian of our souls. That is an awesome thought. He not only purified us with His blood so that we can approach and stand before the throne of the Almighty God, but He is our Shepherd standing guard over us—protecting us from the evil one.
I think
that He is worthy of us “following” Him. How do we do that? By choice. Put one foot in front of the other—putting
Christ first—doing things His way. To find “His way” we must be reading His
word. Find the straight and narrow path or road.
You can enter God's Kingdom only
through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for
the many who choose that way. But the gateway to life is very narrow and the
road is difficult, and only a few ever find it. Matthew 7:13-14
The
choice is for each individual to make. Our relationship to Jesus—to God—is a
personal thing. One to one. I choose to follow Him. To be a faithful follower.
Verses of Salvation or Rescue ~ Those who love your
instructions have great peace and do not stumble. I long for your rescue, LORD,
so I have obeyed your commands. I have obeyed your laws, for I love them very
much. Yes, I obey your commandments and laws because you know everything I do. O
LORD, listen to my cry; give me the discerning mind you promised. Listen to my
prayer; rescue me as you promised. Psalm 119:165-170
Happy
Birthday, Barry!
Blessings
as you continue to seek and serve the Lord!
Love
You Much—Dear Brother
© 2023 Text, photos, and illustrations by Mickey M. Hunacek. All
rights reserved.
All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless
otherwise noted.
New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale
House Foundation.
Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream,
Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Biblical search from Blue Letter Bible - http://v3.blueletterbible.org/search.cfm.
Books by Mickey M.
Hunacek
Available as e-books or paperbacks at Amazon.com
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