What Does Jesus Call Us To Do?

Is it possible that Jesus is calling us?
First and first, Jesus urges us to embrace his gift of salvation first and foremost, for all else follows from this.
When we accept Jesus as our Savior, he bestows upon us his Holy Spirit, who serves as our constant companion.
We become Jesus’ active disciples when we exhibit all of the ‘fruits of the Spirit,’ which include: ″love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control″ (Galatians 5:22-23).
In his epistle to the Colossians, the Apostle Paul defines this process as follows: ″Therefore, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, established in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thanksgiving.″ Colossians 2:6-7 (NASB) We are called by Jesus, and God desires that we obey Him out of love and faith, not as a means of earning his favor, but out of love and appreciation because his commandments are a formula for living a happy and fulfilling life.

Does Jesus Call Us to Love?

The Christian, just as God is love, must have love as one of their distinguishing characteristics as well.
In the midst of Jesus’ lecture, one of the experts in the law approached him and inquired of him as to what he needed to do in order to receive everlasting life.
Jesus inquired of him as to what the Law of Moses stated.
″Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,″ the man said.
″Love your neighbor as yourself″ was the guy’s response (Luke 10:27, 28).
″You have given the proper response,″ Jesus assured him.

″If you follow these instructions, you will live.″ ″Put on, then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving one another; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you must forgive one another.″ Paul went on to say more.Above all, remember to put on love, which is the glue that holds everything together in perfect harmony.In addition, allow the peace of Christ to reign in your hearts, to which you were really summoned as a body.″And remember to be grateful″ (Colossians 3:12-15).

Does Jesus make a call to us?Jesus desires for you to come to him, to open your mind to his truth and to accept it as it has been shown to you in his Word, the Bible, and to follow him.Then, by the power of the Holy Spirit, he will come to live in you and guide you into a new life of service – both to God and to others.As Christians who have gained salvation through Jesus, our primary responsibility is to reflect God’s love to everyone around us.″I’d like to offer you a new command: Love one another.

The same way that I have loved you, you must also love one another″ (John 13:34 NIV).Is it possible that Jesus is calling us?Is it possible that Jesus is calling me?Is Jesus calling your name?YES!YES, YES, YES!

As a result of this love, we are able to live selfless, generous lives of generosity.We will be contributing to the fulfillment of the Great Commission, which Jesus gave to his followers: ″…go and make disciples of all countries, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have told you…″ Matthew 28:18-20 (NASB) To the extent that it is an answer to the question, ″What does Jesus call us to do?″

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Understand Jesus Better!

Do you wish to have a greater understanding of Jesus’ message and His call to you? Because they were following Jesus Christ, the early followers of Jesus were referred to as ″Christians.″ A course has been developed that will allow you to learn about Jesus’ teachings and the beliefs that His disciples have maintained since the first century till today. The course consists of fourteen five-minute lessons presented in an easy-to-understand format. It is ideal for anyone who wants to: learn about the biblical account of how God influenced history through the generations leading up to Jesus
learn about the biblical account of how God influenced history through the generations leading up to Jesus
learn about the biblical account of how God influenced history through the generations leading up to Jesus
learn about the biblical account of how God influenced history through the generations leading up to Jesus
learn about the biblical account of how
To see why Jesus was a part of God’s plan, one must look at the broader picture.
Investigate the reasons why Jesus founded the church.
Recognize His preoccupation with grace, faith, and the practice of baptism
Learn about Jesus’ claims regarding the future as well as prophetic scripture accounts concerning the future.

What did Jesus call us to do?

In Mark 1:17, Jesus summons the first set of his disciples (pupils) to come and join him on his mission.
“ ″Come, follow me!″ Jesus shouted out to them.
In addition, I will transform you into fishers for the souls of mankind!″ When Peter’s mother-in-law is healed, Jesus sends out a demonic spirit and then cures a leper as a result of this challenge.
Then, in chapter 2, Jesus cures a man who has been crippled, and then Jesus summons Matthew to come with him.
I’m curious whether Peter and Andrew exchanged a knowing smile, both thinking to themselves, ″Matthew has no idea what he’s getting himself into!″ After receiving this fresh summons, Jesus meets with all of Matthew’s friends and imparts the Good News with everyone of them.
However, it is only when Jesus is faced by religious leaders who inquire about fasting that he spends time educating and training them.

Then Jesus educates them about the importance of keeping the Sabbath.None of this takes place in a traditional classroom setting.It happens while people go about their daily lives.I’m curious whether this is what Jesus had in mind when he said, ″Follow me.″ Perhaps you’ve been aware of this for some time, but Jesus never summons his followers to a meeting, a classroom, or a lecture hall to hear him speak.

Jesus invites us to enter their environment, observe, and then act in the same way that Jesus does.It’s possible that I’m mistaken, but I began to wonder how many hours I spend preparing for a sermon (lecture, class, or teaching) compared to the number of hours I spend simply going through life with other people.During our planning retreats and board meetings, what proportion of our time is focused on modeling life-change and spiritual ministry as opposed to how can we get ‘X% more people into our facility on Sunday?We often question ourselves at the conclusion of a week, ″How many new individuals did I speak with this week?″ How many people did I pray with who were unaware of our church’s existence?Who knows how many individuals I witnessed being rescued, healed, and sanctified.

We look at our numbers and our buildings, as well as our website and mobile applications, and we believe that we are doing what is right in the eyes of the Lord.Nevertheless, when I look in the mirror, I see that I have not ‘Followed Jesus’.Today was a day in which I did not meet any new individuals.When others were waiting in line or at the restaurant, I did not offer to pray for them.I confess that I have only had one conversation with someone about Jesus Christ and how to be saved.The good news is that we can begin following Jesus right now, regardless of our circumstances.

I am not aware of your own circumstances, but I am confident that I can more successfully follow Jesus, and that you can as well.Please keep in mind that we are meant to follow Jesus, not to forge our own path.All we have to do now is pray to Jesus to help us through this new day.And then, let’s really follow him around the block.Wishing you the blessings of our Lord and the guidance of His Spirit so that you may perform bigger deeds than Jesus has done.

Jesus calls us to follow and abide in him

Originally published on July 27, 2013 This is the tenth of a fourteen-part series written by Clifford M.
Yeary, Associate Director of the Little Rock Scripture Study Center.
Reading and hearing the Gospel, we are frequently struck by how radical the invitation to discipleship made by Jesus is to those who hear it.
This is especially true as readers and hearers of the Gospel.
In Matthew, we learn that ″On his way to the Sea of Galilee, he came across two brothers, Simon, who is known as Peter, and Andrew, who were putting a net into the water.
They were fisherman, and he approached them to ask what they were doing.

When they approached him, he replied, ″Come after me, and I will make you fishermen.″ They immediately abandoned their nets and followed him ″ (Matthew 4:18-20).Despite the fact that they had never seen or heard of Jesus before to this meeting, the immediacy and fullness of their response represent a profound shift from their previous way of life.The beginning of their new existence as disciples occurs in an instant.The immense magnetic appeal that Jesus has for them goes well beyond the radical character of their call.

When Jesus calls out to someone, he is never simply ignored or dismissed.His phone call always causes a crisis, which results in either acceptance or rejection.″Good teacher, what must I do in order to inherit everlasting life?″ asks a wealthy but religious man who kneels before Jesus and asks him the all-important question: ″Good teacher, what must I do in order to inherit eternal life?″ (See Mark 10:17b.) In response to Jesus’ reminder of the significance of observing God’s laws, he tells him that he has been a loyal observer of them since he was a child.″ ‘You are lacking in one thing,’ Jesus murmured to him as he looked him in the eyes and loved him.Follow me; go, sell all you have, and give to the poor, and you will have wealth in heaven; then come, follow me.’″ (See Mark 10:21.) Despite his obedience of the commandment, the guy is unhappy because he lacks the love to accomplish what Jesus wants of him, in spite of his loyal observation.This may cause us to experience a crisis, as we are also specifically invited by Christ to follow him, as evidenced by our baptism.

How many of us have sold all we had and given the proceeds to the poor?However, in Matthew’s rendition of this call, Jesus does not indicate that he is ″lacking in one thing,″ but rather that ″if you seek to be perfect,″ he adds, ″if you wish to be perfect″ (Matthew 19:21).The word ″perfect″ in this context refers to someone who is ″completely developed,″ not some unreachable ideal.The good news for us is that we have been called and that we will continue to be called, despite our flaws and shortcomings.Jesus calls us to grow in our understanding of him and our relationship with him.Fortunately, for the majority of us, Jesus’ invitation is not so revolutionary that we can recall that time as the one wonderful event that made all the difference in our connection with God in our lives.

One thing that has been constant for all Christians is the life-altering attraction of Jesus.Experiencing the one who calls us, the one whose presence will make a world of difference in our lives, is essential if we are to progress in our Christian faith.This is where Jesus’ call to his followers in the Gospel of John might be of particular use to us.The call of Jesus is most frequently expressed in the Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke) in terms of ″following″ Jesus.Following Jesus as he travels through the country of Israel is much more than a metaphor; it is a command from Jesus to his followers.They are to physically follow in his footsteps as he leads them on their path of faith, according to the Bible.

Although the attraction to Jesus is every bit as strong in the Gospel of John as it is in the Synoptic Gospels, the initial call of Jesus’ disciples is presented in a totally different way.
In the Gospel of John, Jesus’ first two disciples are followers of John the Baptist, and it is John himself who initiates their conversion to become disciples of the Messiah.
As all good disciples must, the two disciples (Andrew and tradition claims that the other was John son of Zebedee, or the ″disciple whom Jesus loved″) ″follow″ Jesus as all good disciples do, but John adds the unique point of their inquiring ″where are you staying″ and that they ″stayed with him″ (John 1:38, 39).
The root word ″stay″ is the same as ″abide″ or ″remain with,″ and it means ″to remain with.″ In order to be Jesus’ disciples, it is not required of us that we immediately become flawless in every way.
What is required of us is that we remain in the presence of Jesus.
″I’m the vine, and you’re the branches on the tree.

Because you can’t achieve anything without me, whomever chooses to remain in me and I in him will reap great rewards ″ (John 15:5).

Study Questions

What are the discrepancies in the accounts of Andrew’s calling in the Gospels of Matthew and John (Matthew 4:18-20
John 1:35-41)?
Is there a specific moment or process that helped you realize the significance of Jesus’ invitation to follow him? What strategies do you use to keep the call in your mind?
Are there any basic measures you might take to help you develop in your relationship with Christ?
What aspects of your parish life help the entire community to ″stay″ in Jesus and ″produce great fruit″?

The original version of this article appeared in Arkansas Catholic on July 27, 2013. The Diocese of Little Rock owns the copyright. All intellectual property rights are retained. Copying and redistribution of this material are permitted with acknowledgement and permission from the publisher.

Jesus calls us to follow him, change our lives

We began listening to the teachings of the Gospel, which will tell us about Jesus’ public life, on Sunday, as you may recall.
This is the first Sunday of Ordinary Time, which began last Sunday.
In his sermon last Sunday, John the Baptist reminded us that Jesus is the Lamb of God and that the Spirit of God had come upon him, and that now Jesus was to share that spirit with the community that he was about to assemble.
Today, we hear the very first sermon delivered by Jesus.
The message is straightforward, to the point, and crystal clear: the reign of God is near; transform your life.
Then Jesus walks out into the crowds and begins to draw people to him; he appoints his first disciples.

For the gospel of Jesus to have its full impact, it’s vital, first and foremost, to understand what we mean when we talk about the kingdom of God.As recorded in Luke’s Gospel, Jesus proclaims the same message at the outset of his public ministry.The message is that the rule of God is at hand.But then he has Jesus spell it out when, in the synagogue in Nazareth, Jesus takes the scroll and reads from the section of Isaiah 61, which says, ″I am the Lord your God.″ ″The presence of the Holy Spirit is upon me.

As God’s representative, I am sent to bring good news to the impoverished, to restore sight to blind people, to cure the brokenhearted, to set the oppressed free, and to herald God’s year of jubilee.″ The third Sunday of the month of Ordinary Time Isaiah 8:23-9:3 (NASB) Psalms 27:1, 4, 13, and 14 (KJV) Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 1:10-13 and 17 that Matthew 4:23 (KJV) The whole text of the readings That is the reign of God — a reign in which the poor are lifted up, in which the poor are cherished and loved, in which the downtrodden, those treated unfairly are bound up, and the manacles of injustice are released, the blind are given new sight, and in which the year of Jubilee is celebrated, a year in which everyone has access to everything we need for fullness of life, a year in which all the goods of God’s creation are shared by all and not That is the rule of God, and Jesus claims that it is near, and that it is about to burst forth.God’s entire dominion may now take place as a result of his arrival on the horizon.But the most essential thing to remember is to ″transform your life.″ As a result, Jesus begins to summon disciples, individuals who would follow him and allow him to transform them.Every commentator on the Scriptures argues that when he speaks those words, ″transform your life,″ you must understand that the term ″change″ refers to something quite significant.A fundamental transformation in your entire life, a drastic change, is required.

It is not simply a question of changing your clothes style or anything similar; it is a change in your entire existence.The reign of God is possible; it is close at hand; nevertheless, it is dependent on individuals who claim to follow Jesus and are prepared to make changes in their lives.I believe it’s critical to understand that when Jesus invites disciples, he is not inviting people to become members of the church.Certainly, we are members of the Roman Catholic church, and this is significant, but he is asking them to adhere to his teachings; this is something extremely personal.I believe that if we want to make a difference in our lives, the first step we must take is to devote ourselves to listening closely every week to the gospel, where we learn who Jesus is and grow to know him personally and intimately, as well as deeply.He becomes our friend, and we find ourselves wanting to be like him.

Those are the characteristics of a disciple: they come and follow after Jesus in whatever they do.But, more importantly, when we think about transforming our lives, what exactly does it entail?Each and every one of us could, I’m sure, think of several ways in which we might improve ourselves and our lives if we wanted to be a better person and live a more fulfilling existence.But we’re talking about deeper values here, ones that we would not often associate with the term ″humanity.″ It entails making a significant shift, as well as changing your life by following in the footsteps of Jesus.There are many parts of his life that we could begin to reflect on and understand how I need to change in order to be more like Jesus, and we could begin to do so right now.We won’t be able to complete them all today, but as we listen to the Gospel throughout the course of the year, we’ll hear more and more examples of how we must modify our lives in order to be more like Jesus.

Today I had the idea to recommend just one significant and vital method for us to live in what is unquestionably the richest country on the planet, and I wanted to share it with you.
It is a country where a significant deal of emphasis is placed on material prosperity.
Many people’s ultimate purpose is merely to gather ever-increasing amounts of material items, in order to become ever-increasingly wealthy.
It becomes the ideal for a large number of individuals.
That, however, was not Jesus’ manner of doing things.
I believe that two individuals in the Gospel demonstrate clearly what it means to follow Jesus.

The first is a fictionalized account of a young guy.It is mentioned in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke.This young guy was someone who was drawn to Jesus, and as a result, he want to become one of his disciples.

″Lord, what must I do in order to win everlasting life?″ he inquires one day as he approaches Jesus.
″Keep the commandments,″ Jesus instructed.
″I’ve already done it,″ the young man adds.
″Go, sell all you own, and come follow me,″ Jesus instructed.
He was asking that individual to do something really difficult: to alter his entire attitude about his money and to be willing to follow Jesus wherever he might lead him.

That young man had followed all of Jesus’ rules, but according to the Gospel, he was dejected because he had accumulated much money, which he valued more highly than following Jesus.He was adamant about not changing his ways.One other thing to add to the mix is that the narrative is fairly exceptional.It is the story of a publican, a tax collector, and someone who is disliked and looked down upon by the general public.

Tax collectors were seen as public sinners by the majority of the population.
This tax collector, whose name is Zacchaeus, makes the decision that he wants to meet Jesus.
This is a story that you are undoubtedly familiar with.
The guy is of little size, and there are large crowds following Jesus; it is the culmination of his public ministry, and therefore Zacchaeus cannot see Jesus, so he races ahead of the throng and climbs up a sycamore tree so that he may see Jesus when he passes by, which he does.

When Jesus reaches that point, he raises his eyes to the sky and sees Zacchaeus.
Everyone, I’m sure, was laughing; here’s this rich man, perched high in a tree, attempting to view Jesus.
What exactly did Jesus do?
It was he who said, ″Come down, Zacchaeus, come down.

I need to come over to your place for supper.″ Zaccheus was taken aback.
″I’m a sinner, yet here he is inviting me – he wants to come to my house,″ he said.
Zacchaeus was far more prepared, despite the fact that he hadn’t been observing the laws particularly closely for a long time.

He was desperate to get to know Jesus, so he down from the tree, stood before Jesus, and declared, ″Look, I’m willing to donate half of my belongings to the poor, and if I’ve defrauded anybody, I’ll make it up to them fourfold.″ His willingness to reform and become a disciple of Jesus was demonstrated by the fact that he invited Jesus into his house.
The importance of considering, and perhaps focusing on just one of Jesus’ values, his teaching on wealth, and how it is necessary to have enough, but we do not have to always wanting to have more and more and more, is something I believe is vital for us to examine.
We are not required to become wealthy.
To be able to live a complete life, we want to have enough money so that income may be distributed more evenly and there isn’t such a huge gap between the affluent and the poor that is widening every day.
What do I need to do to make a positive difference in my life?
That one argument, that one principle, brought out by Jesus, ″Blessed are the poor; for theirs is the dominion of God,″ is enough to make a case for him.

I hope that as we continue through this Ordinary Time of the year and listen to the Gospel each week, each of us will begin to ask himself or herself, ″How must I change my life in order to be a follower of Jesus, to respond to the call that he or she hears from him or her in today’s Gospel to Peter, John, James, and Andrew?″ They left everything behind in order to follow him.
Zacchaeaus made significant changes in his life in order to follow him.
Will I be willing to continue to examine my life and evaluate how it compares to the values of Jesus, as well as to make the necessary adjustments?
As each of us accomplishes this, we will be collaborating with Jesus to bring about the reign of God, which will result in the poor hearing the good news, the oppressed being set free, the blind being given new sight, and God’s year of favor being realized, allowing everyone to live a complete human existence.
As we make the necessary adjustments in our life, the kingdom of God will become more completely manifest in our world.

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Things That Jesus Told Us TO DO

As all two of my dedicated readers have undoubtedly learned, I’m constantly compiling lists of things.
Because of this, I was really pleased to get this list from someone else.
Aaron, our church’s brand new Youth Pastor, was in charge of putting everything together.
He’s one of the good guys.
In order to get to know us better, he came to preach last Sunday when our Senior Pastor was out of town.
Here’s the excellent list he used to prepare his sermon notes.

He referred to it as ″Going Back to the Fundamentals.″ Here is a list of all the things that Jesus instructed us to do, taken from the Gospel of Matthew.

Worship and serve only the Lord, and nothing else. Repent (Mt 4:10
repentance). Follow me, says Matthew 4:17. ‘Shine your light before me, and perform good actions,’ says Jesus in Matthew 4:19. Mt 5:16
Your holiness must be greater than that of the Pharisees. Mt 5:20
Get to the bottom of things swiftly. 5:25
Give to those who ask, and don’t turn away those who want to borrow from you, according to Matthew. Mt 5:42
Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you are two of Jesus’ teachings. Give to those in need, according to Matthew 5:44. Pray according to Mt 6:2. Mt 6:5 says to forgive those who have wronged you. Mt. 6:14 and 18:35
fasting from eating every now and then. Jesus said in Matthew 6:16, ″Treat others the way you would like to be treated.″ Entrance is by a tiny gate, according to Matthew 7:12. Do God’s will, as stated in Matthew 7:13. Mt 7:21
Acknowledge Jesus in front of others. ‘Honor your father and mother,’ says Jesus in Matthew 10:32. Mt 15:4 and Mt 19:19
Be lowly in spirit. Mt 18:4
Confront the individual with whom you are having a disagreement. Mt 18:15 states that you should love your neighbor as yourself. Mt 19:19 and Mt 22:39: Serve the entire world. 20:26-28
23:11
Love the Lord your God with all of your heart, soul, and mind Feed, clothe, visit, and invite the poor and needy, according to Matthew 22:37. Mt 25:35 says, ″Go then and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them.″ Mt 28:19
Mt 28:20

And so I came to the conclusion that if I examine and practice this list every day (returning to the basics), I will no longer have to worry about that other list of ″Thou-Shall-Nots″ (commandments) (wag finger; wag finger). It appears to be a more convenient manner of living a Christian life. What are your thoughts? And what are your thoughts on our new Youth Pastor?

What did Jesus come to do?

Jesus, God manifested in human, came to our planet for a variety of reasons. According to the Bible, the following is a list of the things that Jesus came to perform. It is a fascinating and valuable investigation.

To reveal the Father (Matt. 11:27)

″My Father has entrusted me with the care of everything. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to disclose him.″ ″No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.″

To be a ransom for many (Matt. 20:28)

″In the same way that the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many,″ the author writes.

To serve (Matt. 20:28)

In the same way that the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many, so did Jesus Christ.″

To save the world (John 3:17; Luke 19:10)

Because God did not send his Son into the world in order to condemn the world, but in order to rescue the world through him,″ the Bible says.

To preach the good news of the kingdom of God (Luke 4:43)

″However, he insisted, saying, ″I must proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God to the other cities as well, for that is why I have been sent.″

To bring division (Luke 12:51)

″Do you believe I have come to bring peace to the earth?″ ″No, I tell you, but division,″ I explain.

To do the will of the Father (John 6:38)

″For I have not come down from heaven to do my will, but to execute the will of him who sent me,″ says the apostle Paul.

To give the Father’s words (John 17:8)

″Because I delivered the words you provided me, and they were well received. They were confident that I was sent by you, and they thought that you were the one who sent me.″

To testify to the truth (John 18:37)

″You are, then, a king!″ said Pilate. ″You are correct in claiming that I am a king,″ Jesus said. In fact, it was for this purpose that I was born, and it was for this reason that I came into the world, to bear witness to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth pays attention to what I have to say.″

To die and destroy Satan’s power (Heb. 2:14)

According to the Gospels, ″since the children had flesh and blood, he too participated in their humanity in order that via his death, he may kill him who has the authority over death — that is, the devil.″

To destroy the devil’s works (1 John 3:8)

″He who does sin is of the devil, for the devil has been doing sin from the beginning of time. The devil’s work was destroyed when the Son of God appeared to undo his deeds.″

To fulfill the Law and the Prophets (Matt. 5:17)

The Prophets and the Law were not abolished by Jesus; rather, they were fulfilled by him. ″Do not believe that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.″

To give life (John 10:10,28)

″The thief comes only to steal, murder, and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and that they may enjoy it to the fullest extent possible… The life I give them is immortal, and they will never expire; no one will ever be able to wrest them from my clutches.″

To taste death for everyone (Heb. 2:9)

″But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, who is now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, in order that, by the mercy of God, he could taste death for all.″

To become a high priest (Heb. 2:17)

″As a result, he had to be made like his brothers in every manner, in order that he may become a compassionate and loyal high priest in God’s service, and that he might atone for the sins of the people,″ the Bible says.

To atone for sin (Heb. 2:17)

The reason for this was because he needed to be treated the same as his brothers in every manner, so that he might be a compassionate and faithful high priest in God’s worship, and so that he could make atonement for their crimes.

To proclaim freedom for believers (Luke 4:18)

Because he has anointed my preaching to bring good news to the needy, the Spirit of the Lord has descended upon me. He has entrusted me with the mission of proclaiming liberation for prisoners and sight restoration for the blind, as well as the release of the downtrodden.″

To proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor (Luke 4:19)

“to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

To bring judgment (John 9:39)

When Jesus came into this world for judgment, he declared, ″I came that the blind could see and the sightless might become blind.″

To take away sin (1 John 3:5)

″However, you are aware that Jesus appeared so that he may atone for our crimes.″ And there is no sin in him.″

To preach (Mark 1:38)

When asked where they should travel, Jesus said, ″Let us go somewhere else — to the adjacent villages – so that I might teach there as well.″ That is the reason I’ve come.’″

To call sinners (Mark 2:17)

″When Jesus heard this, he responded to them, ‘It is the ill who require a doctor, not the healthy.’ My purpose in coming has not been to summon the virtuous, but sinners.’″

To know who is true (1 John 5:20)

″We also know that the Son of God has arrived and has provided us with insight, so that we may recognize him as the one who is true. And we are in him who is true–even in his Son, Jesus Christ–and we are secure in him. He is the one and only real God, as well as the source of eternal life.″

7 Verses That Call Us To Be Disciples Of Jesus

Throughout the New Testament, you will come across ordinary and improbable people who have been called to serve as Jesus’ Disciples (followers).
Andrew and Peter were fishermen who were ignorant and considered to be of low social standing; Matthew worked as a tax collector, which was equivalent to confessing you were a crook in those days.
These guys were taken by Jesus and used to become some of his early followers.
So, what exactly does it mean to be a follower of Jesus Christ, and how can we gain a deeper knowledge of this through the scriptures?
Scripture has provided us with the opportunity to learn about Jesus, God’s only son, who was sent to us in order for us to be forgiven of our sins.
His willingness to lay down His life so that we could one day be able to walk beside God once more.

As long as Jesus was alive, he served as a living example of what God has always meant for us to be: loving and caring children of God who are abiding, committed, and true to their parents.As soon as we come to comprehend and turn our lives up to Jesus, we are no longer just considered followers of Jesus Christ, but we are also obligated to spread the gospel and disciple others.To do this, we can share our testimony, encourage people with scripture and prior experiences, assist others and, most importantly, love others unconditionally in the manner of our Lord and Savior.I’ve chosen seven Bible texts that, in my opinion, invite us to follow Jesus as disciples.

7 Bible Verses That Call Us To Be Disciples Of Jesus

1. John 15:18-19

When the world hates you, remember that it was the world that despised me before you.
If you belonged to the world, it would treat you as if you were one of its own.
As things are, you are not a part of the world, yet I have selected you from among the people of the world.″ These two verses couldn’t be more accurate, and they reflect something that Christians go through on a daily basis.
However, even though Jesus was the most magnificent guy who ever lived, he was highly despised and tormented by the people of his day.
Despite this, he was well aware that many would reject what he had to say or what he had to offer to God’s people.
It is reasonable for Christians to expect nothing less than the same reactions from some of the people with whom we communicate the gospel, but that is perfectly acceptable.

We are continuing to press on and endure with what we know to be true in our hearts, as well as sharing the Word with others.

2. Matthew 28:19-20

“ Therefore go and make disciples of all countries, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to follow everything I have told you.
And without a doubt, I will be with you constantly, till the end of the era.″ Some material in the Bible includes layers of meaning that must be deciphered, and then there are lines like Matthew 28:19-20 that are straightforward.
These two verses make it quite clear what we as disciples are expected to accomplish.
The idea that we should go forth and share the Gospel, baptize people, and educate them Moreover, the most significant aspect of these words is that Jesus assures his disciples that he will be with them at all times.
This is something we as Christians must keep in mind while we are teaching or discussing our personal relationship with Jesus.
This might be one of the most difficult demands Jesus has for us, but it is also the most effective approach to spread the gospel.

3. John 21:17

‘So go and make disciples of all countries, baptizing them in the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, and training them to follow everything I have told you.’ And rest assured that I will be with you till the end of time.″ Some passages in the Bible include layers of meaning that must be deciphered, and then there are sections like Matthew 28:19-20 that are clear and straightforward.
We can see from these two verses exactly what we are supposed to accomplish as disciples.
That we should go out and share the Gospel, baptize people, and educate them.
‘ Of particular significance in these words is Jesus’ assurance to his disciples that he would always be with them.
While teaching or sharing our personal relationship with Jesus, we as Christians must keep this in mind.
One of the most difficult demands Jesus has for us, yet it is also the most effective means to spread the gospel.

4. Matthew 4:19

I’ll send you out to fish for people,″ Jesus replied, inviting people to come and follow him.
This is the location where Jesus first encounters Simon named Peter and his brother Andrew, both of whom worked as fisherman.
They didn’t know who Jesus was at this time, but he assures them that if they follow him, they will be able to fish for people.
I’m sure they were a little perplexed at first as to what he was talking about, but they eventually caught on.
We may have a strong desire to learn more about what it means to follow Jesus, and that desire may be both overwhelming and perplexing.
However, as Peter and Andrew discovered, it is important to follow one’s curiosity.

″Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you,″ Jesus said.″Ask, and it will be given to you.″ If you are not willing to at least knock on the door, you may never find out what is on the other side.

5. John 8:12

″When Jesus spoke to the people for the second time, he said, ″I am the light of the world.
Following me will never be in the dark, but will always have the light of life in their hearts.
Analogies are something I enjoy, and Jesus did as well!
When Jesus was sent down to us, the earth was once again corrupted, dark, and wicked, as it had been before.
He was sent to this place to be the light he is alluding to, to break the cycle of darkness that God’s people had become used to through the centuries.
If we comprehend and practice Jesus’ teachings in the way that God intended, we will not be overtaken by the darkness that exists in the world today.

It will also draw people who are lost in the darkness and seeking liberation from their sin to the light of the gospel.As a result, by becoming disciples of Jesus, we have the opportunity to shed the light on everyone who is in the dark!

6. 2 Timothy 2:2-3

I will commit the things you have heard me say in front of many witnesses to persons who are trustworthy and competent to educate others as well.
″Come and suffer with me, as a worthy soldier of Christ Jesus,″ I invite you.
After accepting Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we are required to not only develop in our faith but also to share that understanding with others.
In this passage, we read 2 Timothy 2:2-3, in which Paul instructs Timothy to pass on his identical instructions to others in order for them to promote the Gospel as well.
Paul is well aware of the difficulties that have arisen as a result of his commitment to Jesus Christ, and he compares himself to a good soldier who follows all that Jesus has taught him.
Paul also understands that this voyage will be rewarding for Timothy, but that he will also face hardships along the way.

7. John 12:26

″Anyone who serves me must follow me, and everywhere I go, my servant will there as well.
″The one who serves me will be honored by my Father.″ What a powerful verse, and what a wonderful verse to conclude a discussion on discipleship with!
Those of us who will follow Jesus and minister to him in accordance with his teachings will be judged worthy in the eyes of the Almighty when we do.
As a result, He will respect and honor us.
When we make the decision to follow Jesus, we are called to engage in the process of discipleship.
We expect it to be a difficult road, but the fact that we will have the opportunity to communicate the most essential and hopeful news with individuals in our immediate vicinity is quite exciting!

We actually have the capacity to alter someone’s course of action!You have the potential to share the gospel and disciple others if you believe with all of your heart that Jesus Christ was sent and died for us.Also, please see the video below for the most current sermon from our church!To hear more sermons, please visit our church’s website at weareredefined.com!

10 Love-Filled Names Jesus Has for You

When you begin to doubt your own value, keep in mind these ten names that Jesus uses to refer to all of his children.
When I was a youngster, my cousin and I would ″play school″ together throughout the summer months.
We’d take turns being the student and the instructor, and we’d frequently get into heated debates over who would be the student and who would be the teacher.
Our own school rules, workbooks, and dress-up routines were created by us.
The finest thing was that we were given the opportunity to choose a new name.
It’s possible that we’ll have a new identity.

It wasn’t uncommon for me to get into trouble with my eleven-year-old teacher just so I could see her create the letter T on the poster board that functioned as our classroom blackboard.It was a fun game.My new identity made me feel intelligent, beautiful, bold, and special—as if I could do anything!However, after imagined school was done and I was forced to return to the real world, no matter how hard I tried, I simply couldn’t maintain my Tawny persona.

The world just refused to allow me to do so.They said I wasn’t very educated and that I didn’t look particularly attractive.Over time, the world informed me that I lacked courage and that I was incapable of doing much of anything.Unfortunately, I took the world’s word for it.A life of dread and worry, failure, and self-depreciation resulted as a result of this experience.

Despite the fact that I was aware of God and His love for me, there was a gap.I didn’t make the connection between His love for me and the power He had made accessible to me.Have you been trying to figure out who you are in the world for a while?Listed below are ten poems that have aided me in discovering my actual identity.They’ve been a source of consolation through difficult moments, provided me with bravery on frightening days, and revealed to me the endearing nicknames my Father has given me.

10 Love-Filled Names Jesus Calls You:

A Friend of The King John 15:15

I no longer refer to you as servants, since a servant has no understanding of what his master is doing; instead, I refer to you as friends, because I have disclosed to you all that I have learned from My Father in this lifetime.

Loved Romans 8:35-37

Who is it that will ever be able to separate us from the love of Christ? Will there be hardship or distress or persecution or hunger or nakedness or peril or sword? Despite this, we are more than conquerors and have achieved an overwhelming triumph through the grace of God, who has loved us.

Redeemed Romans 3:22-25

This righteousness of God is received through faith in Jesus Christ, and it is available to everyone who believe. Everyone has sinned and falls short of God’s glory, and all are being justified as a gift by His grace, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God publicly exhibited as a sacrifice of atonement and reconciliation by His blood, through faith…

Protected Psalm 3:3

But You, O Lord, are a shield for me, my glory, and the One who raises my head from the ashes of my enemies.

Bold & Confident Psalm 138:3

You answered my call on the day I called, and You gave me the courage and confidence I needed to face the challenges of life.

Upheld Psalm 55:22

He will maintain and uphold you if you cast your burdens on Him, and He will never allow the righteous to be shaken.

Masterfully Crafted Ephesians 2:10

For we are God’s handiwork, made in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God planned in advance so that we would be able to participate in them.

Strong Psalm 28:7

As a result, my heart is filled with joy, and I will express my gratitude to the Lord by singing praises to Him and thanking Him for His assistance.

A Fearless Powerhouse 2 Timothy 1:7

Because God did not give us a spirit of timidity, cowardice, or fear, but rather a spirit of strength and love, as well as a spirit of good judgment and personal discipline.

Free 2 Corinthians 3:17

The Spirit of the Lord is now present, and where the Spirit of the Lord is present, there is liberty.
I encourage you to claim as your own the names that are full with love that He has given you.
He expresses his feelings for you.
Consider your value in His eyes, and ask for the strength and courage to finally live the life Christ died to give you: a life of wealth!
Oh, what a wonderful love He has for us!

How does Jesus call us to live?

Sarah, the Youth Ambassador, is in East Timor.
Photo courtesy of World Vision’s Lucy Aulich.
My motivation for writing this blog was to work through a personal question: what does it actually mean to represent Christ with everything that I am – and everything that I possess?
I profess to be a Christian.
I adore Jesus and owe my my existence to Him.
He is my best friend, my Saviour, and my King, to put it bluntly.

Being a disciple of Jesus, on the other hand, is an intriguing experience.He’s the kind of man who believes in drastic change.If you’ve ever read the Bible, you’re probably aware of what I’m talking about.If not, read it again.

Jesus spoke certain things that were a little provocative.Despite the fact that He expects a great deal of His disciples, He claims that His load is light and His yoke is easy.Jesus tells us to love our adversaries, to forgive without stopping, and to follow Him no matter what the cost may be to ourselves or others.He questioned societal conventions on a number of occasions, and I believe He would do it again today.You see, God invites us to love and serve others in our immediate vicinity no matter what the cost may be.

For our brothers and sisters, we give our time, resources, and money, as well as the possibility of our lives.Despite this, we tend to disregard it.Especially with the financial aspect.The part about making a sacrifice.When it comes to helping ″the least of these,″ the portion that really needs us to offer anything of ourselves, like as our time or money, is the most difficult.We are capable of doing so, and I am certain that we are not incapable of doing so.

I’m certain that we have made the decision not to.″If we’re going to be a Christian nation that doesn’t help the poor, either we have to pretend that Jesus was just as selfish as we are, or we have to acknowledge that He commanded us to love the poor and serve the needy without condition and then admit that we just don’t want to do it,″ Stephen Colbert said on his show.It seems to me that Jesus made it very obvious what He wants of us when it comes to loving the poor, and I frequently wonder what God thinks of us; what God thinks of me.He observes as we dress ourselves with the latest fashion and spend our money on worthless objects, all in the name of improving our quality of life, while at the same time dealing with crises such as starvation and refugee crisis.His eyes must be drawn to the impoverished and vulnerable, and he must scowl as we give explanation after reason for why we spend our money in the manner that we do.You’ve probably heard the expression ″out of sight, out of mind.″ When it comes to helping the poor and underprivileged, isn’t that precisely what every Christian in Australia is striving to do?

Think about what would happen if the 22,000 children who die every day from hunger lived in our neighborhood.
Isn’t this something that would make first page news?
Is it a tragedy?
Is there an emergency?
And yet, despite the fact that it is someone else’s children, someone else’s life, and someone who lives beyond our boundaries, we appear to be OK.
What I’ve discovered is that we begin to rationalize our riches by saying things like ″I deserve this″ or ″it’s because of this that I require this item.″ But allow me to toss forth a wild thought: what if our money didn’t belong to us in the first place?

What if it belonged to the Almighty?Would that have an impact on how we spent our time?What if we considered our money to be a gift from God?

What kind of encouragement would he give you in terms of purchasing a new car or going on another vacation, or perhaps decorating your home with pricey paintings?
Now, I’m not suggesting that these things are evil; rather, I’m asking if they are essential.
No.
And when they are no longer required, they are considered a luxury.
Afterwards, we’re left with the dilemma of how we can continue to live in luxury when so many others throughout the world lack access to even the most basic of necessities?

Food, clean water, education, and healthcare are examples of such things.Do we want to disregard the cries of the destitute and decorate ourselves with frivolous items instead?Why does this seem so outlandish to you?Is it possible that we have been called to live in this manner?

What do you think Jesus would do if He had as much money as we have?
As Christians, that is, as followers of Jesus, we must take into consideration our financial situation.
We have to question ourselves whether our money is ours to do with as we like or whether it belongs to someone else.
Moreover, if it isn’t – then we should be inquiring of the Supreme Being about how He would like us to use the money He has placed in our possession.

″A great deal will be asked from everyone who has been given a great deal.″ Luke 12:48 (NIV) Wouldn’t this realization have a profound impact on the way we spend our money?
I suppose you could argue the same thing about our time, energy, and all of our other resources.
It is not our life that we live.
We were purchased for a price.

And we have been called on a daily basis to pick up our cross and lay down our lives for those in our immediate vicinity.
We are called to represent Christ with everything we are and everything we have.
Sarah Willets is a World Vision Australia Youth Ambassador who represents the organization.

Through volunteering and fundraising, she hopes to inspire youth to make a difference in their own social circle/community, as well as on a wider global scale through campaigning and fundraising efforts.
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5 Teachings of Jesus that Will Improve Your Life

During His time on the earth, Jesus demonstrated the path to happiness, serenity, and a return to God’s eternal presence. His message is still relevant today. Your life will be more happy and full of meaning if you follow Jesus and put these five truths He taught into practice. 1

Love God and your neighbor

After being asked which commandment was the most essential, Jesus said, ″Thou must love the Lord thy God with all of thine heart; and with all of thine soul; and with all of thine intellect.″ The first and most important commandment is this.
The second commandment is similar to the first: ″Thou shall love thy neighbor as oneself″ (Matthew 22:37–39).
Replace your hatred with love and your rage and wrath with compassion, and you’ll find yourself feeling closer to God and experiencing more serenity in your life.
During His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus preached the Golden Rule, which is as follows: ″Therefore, all things whatsoever you would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them″ (Matthew 7:12).
To put it another way, treat others the way you would like to be treated.
As a result of your efforts, your connections will be strengthened and you will be happy.

Have faith in Jesus Christ

The Bible says in John 3:16: ″For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.″ Whoever believes in Jesus will not perish, but will have everlasting life.
Having confidence in Jesus Christ entails placing one’s trust in Him as well as his teachings.
This will bring you blessings in this life as well as in the world to come.
4

Communicate sincerely with God

Jesus demonstrated through his life that we should pray to God, our heavenly Father, on a regular basis.
God has a special affection for you.
He is ready to assist you at any time.
Through prayer, you may communicate with Him, show your thanks, and ask for what you require.
Peter inquired of Jesus when He was on the earth, saying, ″Lord, how many times shall my brother offend against me, and I will forgive him?″ Matthew 18:21–22 quotes Jesus as saying, ″I do not say unto thee, Until seventy times seven,″ but rather, ″Until seventy times seven.″ It is possible to bring greater serenity and forgiveness into our own life when we freely forgive those around us.

Sharing Time: What Does Jesus Christ Want Me to Do?

″Sharing Time: What Does Jesus Christ Want Me to Do?″ ″Sharing Time: What Does Jesus Christ Want Me to Do?″ Friend, September 1997, page 36 Is there anyone out there who has ever spoken anything hurtful to someone and then regretted it later?
Have you ever caused someone else to feel upset because you didn’t think things through before you spoke or did something?
Do you ever feel unsure about what to do when someone asks you to do something you know is wrong?
Do you ever question your own judgment?
Have you ever questioned what you should do when someone offends your sensibilities?
When you are in any of these situations, remembering Jesus Christ can be beneficial.

When we do not take the time to think before we act, or when our brains are filled with anger, fear, or confusion, it is easy to do things that are harmful to others or to ourselves.Because our behaviors are dictated by our ideas, contemplating Jesus Christ can be beneficial.It is possible to quiet our minds by thinking about His life, His example, and what He would like us to do.This can assist us in making virtuous decisions.

Think on the Savior and ask yourself, ″What would Jesus Christ want me to do?″ As you think about the Savior, consider the following: The answer to this question will assist everyone of us in following Him and making the proper decision.The Savior cares about us and wishes for us to be happy.He desires for us to be kind, loving, forgiving, helpful, obedient, honest, and thankful in all that we do and say.When we perform these things, we are following God’s instructions.Following in the footsteps of Jesus Christ will assist us in finding happiness.

Instructions: Fill in the blanks with color on the ″What Does Jesus Christ Want Me to Do?″ reminder.Glue it where instructed after mounting it on sturdy paper and cutting it out along the hefty black lines.Place your reminder in a prominent location where you will see it on a regular basis.

Sharing Time Ideas

Note: ″To Think about Jesus″ (Children’s Songbook, p.
71) could be a good practice song for the month of September.
1.
Sing ″Tell Me the Stories of Jesus,″ which may be found on page 57 of the Children’s Songbook.
Explain that Jesus Christ demonstrated to us what He desires for us to practice through His example.
″Come follow me,″ he urged, and he invited us all to do the same by following His example.

It is by understanding His life that we may better answer the question, ″What does Jesus Christ want me to do?″ ″May you tell us where we can get information on what Jesus Christ did?″ Place photos of His mission on the walls or on a chalkboard, and on slips of paper, write the following scriptural passages that match to the photographs.Make four groups of children out of the youngsters.After asking each group to study a specific set of scripture passages and locate the matching picture(s), have each group present to the whole Primary what Jesus Christ did and how we can follow in His footsteps.Scripture verses and illustration possibilities: (1) Mark 1:9–11; Luke 3:21–23/John the Baptist; (2) Mark 1:9–11; Luke 3:21–23 Gospel Art Kit208 depicts Jesus being baptized.

Jesus was baptized, and so may we all.(2) Matthew 19:13–15; Mark 10:13–16/Christ and the children, Gospel Art Kit216—Jesus Christ loves the small children, and we can love one another as he loves the little children.(3) Matthew 26:36–39; Mark 14:32–36/Jesus Praying in Gethsemane, Gospel Art Kit227—Jesus prayed and surrendered Himself to the will of the Father; we, too, can pray and subject ourselves to the will of the Father.Jesus Heals the Blind, Gospel Art Kit213; Luke 17:11–14; John 9:1–7/The Ten Lepers, Gospel Art Kit221; Jesus Heals the Ten Lepers, Gospel Art Kit221 In the same way that Jesus showed compassion for people who were sick and suffering, we may also assist those who are sick and crippled.2.

Share with the children that many of the Primary songs might assist them in answering the question ″What does Jesus Christ want me to do?″ During your singing of the following songs, pause after each song and ask, ″What does this song tell you Jesus Christ wants you to do?″ Songs (all of which may be found in the Children’s Songbook): Page 78 has the passages ″I’m Trying to Be Like Jesus,″ ″When Jesus Christ Was Baptized,″ ″Search, Ponder, and Pray,″ and ″Follow the Prophet.″ Page 110 contains the passages ″Love One Another,″ ″I’ll Walk with You,″ and ″Called to Serve.″ Page 174 contains the passage ″Called to Serve.″ 3.Invitation: Before the meeting, invite three adult members to tell, in three minutes each, the following anecdotes from the Friends: ″Mr.Archuleta’s Apricots,″ July 1996, pp.16–19; ″To Warm the Heart (and the Feet),″ January 1995, pp.15–17; ″The Experiment,″ June 1996, pp.2–4; ″Mr.

Archuleta’s Apricots,″ July 1996, pp.16–19; ″To Warm the Heart (and the Feet),″ January 1995, pp.15–17; ″ Demonstrate to the youngsters that when they are confronted with a tough circumstance, they may find themselves asking themselves, ″What is the appropriate course of action?″ ″Can I be of assistance?″ or ″What should I do?″ or ″What should I say?″ Instruct them that such inquiries form part of the larger inquiry of