Daily Devotional for Tuesday March 27, 2007

A Follower of Jesus Christ

(Matthew 16:24, Luke 14:33, John 12:26,15:8, 1 Peter 2:21)

>A follower of Jesus Christ. Today, I want to share with you a very special >message on what it means to be a follower of Jesus Christ. I was sitting >in >my office late Friday afternoon. The week was winding down. I was feeling >physically and mentally drained, I had just spent 20 minutes or so in >prayer >over the trip to NYC and the upcoming Liveprayer special on Stern's >Satellite radio channel, and in one of those quiet reflective moments alone >with the Lord, I was asking Him to fill me afresh with His Spirit. Moments >later I was checking my email before heading to the gym for my daily >workout >when an email caught my eye. It was from someone who said that the message >below reminded him of me. As I read the words he sent, I was mesmerized by >the words I was reading. When I finished, I was sitting all alone in the >quiet of my office and tears were streaming down my cheeks. I remember >asking the Lord to please, let this be me today, tomorrow, and forever. > >I want to share those powerful words with you today. I spent the weekend >researching their origin. While numerous people have claimed authorship, >it >is apparent that the author of these powerful words is unknown. They were >most likely penned by a martyred missionary in Zimbabwe or an African >pastor >who gave his life for the faith. I want to you to do me a favor and stop >whatever you are doing. NO MULTI-TASKING! Turn off the TV, the radio, >your cell phone, your Blackberry. If you are in your office, tell everyone >to leave you alone for a few minutes and lock the door. If you are at >home, >make sure you have a few moments of complete peace and quiet. Wherever you >may be reading this, stop everything and fully concentrate on the words I >am >going to share with you today. > >I've separated this into 16 powerful thoughts. Take each one separately >and >meditate on what it means and how it applies to you. These 16 thoughts >pretty well sum up all I have written to you over the course of these past >91+ months. They define what I have challenged you each day to become as a >follower of Jesus Christ. I can already tell you that I will be doing a >4-part series of Devotionals very soon, taking 4 of these thoughts each day >and breaking them down for you. I am having a copy made for my home and >office. I want to read these words EVERY DAY to remind myself who I am, >and >who I am supposed to be as follower of Jesus Christ. Please, read these >words, meditate on them, and let them bless you today as they have so >richly >blessed me. > > >Author Unknown > >"I'm a part of the fellowship of the unashamed. The die has been cast. I >have stepped over the line. The decision has been made. > >I'm a disciple of His and I won't look back, let up, slow down, back away, >or be still. > >My past is redeemed. My present makes sense. My future is secure. > >I'm done and finished with low living, sight walking, small planning, >smooth >knees, colorless dreams, tamed visions, mundane talking, cheap living, and >dwarfed goals. > >I no longer need preeminence, prosperity, position, promotions, plaudits, >or >popularity. > >I don't have to be right, or first, or tops, or recognized, or praised, or >rewarded. > >I live by faith, lean on His presence, walk by patience, lift by prayer, >and >labor by Holy Spirit power. > >My face is set. My gait is fast. My goal is heaven. > >My road may be narrow, my way rough, my companions few, but my guide is >reliable and my mission is clear. > >I will not be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, turned back, >deluded or delayed. > >I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice or hesitate in the presence of >the adversary. > >I will not negotiate at the table of the enemy, ponder at the pool of >popularity, or meander in the maze of mediocrity. > >I won't give up, shut up, or let up until I have stayed up, stored up, >prayed up, paid up, and preached up for the cause of Christ. > >I am a disciple of Jesus! > >I must give until I drop, preach until all know, and work until He comes. > >And when He does come for His own, He'll have no problems recognizing me. >My >colors will be clear!"