Seeking Jesus from the Edges – The Beginning!

Seeking Jesus From the Edges

Morning Devotions entitled The Beginning

Prayerfully prepared by Pastor Calvin Cook on August 10, 2024

Scripture focus – Isaiah 55:6-7  Seek the Lord while he may be found, call on him while he is near. Let the wicked forsake their ways and the unrighteous their thoughts. Let them turn to the Lord and he will have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will freely pardon.

Today we begin a new series of “Seeking Jesus – From the Edges” Devotionals. These devotionals will coincide with a series of sermons I have been sensing need preached entitled “Following Jesus”.  I encourage your participation in prayer, discernment, and responding to the call that Jesus made when he said, “Follow Me”.

I believe that we have let so many things get in the way of “Following Jesus” with a complete devotion to the things of our life. If we really believe that Jesus was sent to bring new life and bring it abundantly then of course the first step of following Jesus has to be to have an actual relationship with Jesus.  Not only in words, but in actions, and in the way we live and represent ourselves as being followers of Jesus.

The title of these devotions has always been “Seeking Jesus – From the Edges”. The reasoning is that as part of the remnant of the faithful, many times we feel that we have been banished to the outskirts of society. We have been quiet because of a misunderstanding of church and state. If we are going to be Jesus following, Bible believing, Holy Spirit driven and inspired people. Then it just can’t be a once a week or once a year or need based relationship it needs a thorough commitment to be followers from wherever we are. It will take the intersection of Jesus into all of our life, our families, our relationships, our work, our play, our place in society, and so much more. We shirk at that because we have allowed so many other things to take place.

Here are the first steps to Following Jesus. 1 – Accept Jesus as your Savior.  2- Know the one you are following. 3 – Know Jesus intimately through prayer, scripture reading, worship public and private, 4 listen to how the Spirit is speaking to you, through others who have strong convictions through their faith in Jesus.5 Don’t just look at Jesus as the fixer of your problems, know Jesus as he guides you to avoid the problems, situations, and drama you have brought into your life. 6 Full immersion with everything, doesn’t mean you leave everything but everywhere you go you take Jesus with you. Jesus becomes your soul’s spouse.

The scripture this morning might be troubling, but here is the truth. The presence of God is always with us, we just have to realize it and seek it out. You have to be the one to make the decision to leave the mind set and destruction of all things evil and allow the Peace of Christ to reign in your hearts.  A caution is that evil appears in normal and takes over our OK lives.

So here is the invitation, take an opportunity to journey with me as we “Follow Jesus” from wherever we are.