Author: Brian Burdett

“God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.” – 1 Corinthians 1:9

Two precious words are highlighted here – FAITHFUL and FELLOWSHIP. They are a wonder to contemplate, so take some time to contemplate them today!

God is faithful. He keeps faith with His people. He doesn’t arbitrarily change His mind or impulsively cancel His promises and covenants. He is rock-solid, completely trustworthy, and eternally steadfast. His approach to you isn’t dictated by His mood. He’ll keep every promise. He’ll honor every commitment. The covenant of grace that was sealed with the blood of His Son, Jesus, is an unending covenant. He welcomes everyone who trusts in Jesus as Lord and will never lose or throw out anyone who believes in Him. We live in a world where few are truly faithful. Old institutions, standards, and traditions are crumbling. Faithfulness is frequently tossed aside for short-term benefits. God never does that! God is faithful. Take time to meditate on how God has been faithful throughout history and in your own life.

Then, if Jesus is your Lord, you have fellowship with Him, the Christ of God. Fellowship isn’t some shallow acknowledgement of existence like on social media. It isn’t acquaintanceship. It isn’t casual. Fellowship is deep. In fact, Scripture says that we are united with Christ through faith in Him. We are inseparable from Him and He is always with us. He knows your thoughts, struggles, hurts, and needs. As your Suffering Savior, Jesus understands what you’re going through perfectly and completely. He is closer to you than the closest person in your life. You are in loving, supportive community with Him. Conversation. Comfort. Care. He constantly invites you to spend time with Him in prayer, in worship, in meditation, and in quiet, joyful fellowship. He’s your Lord, but He’s also your perfect, loving, caring older brother. Faithful… Fellowship… #FollowJesus

“Greet those workers in the Lord, Tryphaena and Tryphosa. Greet the beloved Persis, who has worked hard in the Lord. Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord; also his mother, who has been a mother to me as well.” – Romans 16:12-13

If Paul were writing a kind greeting to you, what would it say about your faith? How would your life of faith be immortalized in Scripture if it could be? Would Paul highlight your love? Your gifts and talents? Your hard work? Your generosity? Your faithfulness in the face of difficulties?

Perhaps you’re uncomfortable about what Paul might write. If so, what needs to change about how you follow Jesus and serve Him? What should change in your spiritual habits? What should change in your service to the Lord or witness to the world? What should change about your worship, your life in community with others, or your daily priorities? What should change about how you spend your time, your energy, your days, or your nights?

Greet _______, who is/has _____________. #FollowJesus!

“I appeal to you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in your prayers to God on my behalf.” – Romans 15:30

Prayer should not be our last resort when we simply can’t do anything else to help someone. Prayer must be our first resort! It’s the greatest help we can provide a fellow Christian. Prayer asks, seeks, and knocks on the door of the Almighty, pleading with Him to advance His Kingdom, the very thing He wants to do. Prayer is our opportunity to boldly ask our Father for things in His will and receive them. Prayer is our chance to confidently ask for grace to help in a brother or sister’s time of need, even when they are on the other side of the world.

Do you strive in prayer with others doing God’s work? Do you regularly make time for strategic, intentional, disciplined prayer for people like Paul, who are proclaiming the Gospel in areas where there are few, or no, Christian witnesses? Prayer isn’t a consolation prize for those unable to go or give. Prayer is our most powerful weapon in the spiritual battle that is making disciples of all nations. Disciple makers, near and far, are pushing into Satan’s dark domain and he absolutely fights back. It’s the prayers of saints just like yourself that help breach the gates and tear down the walls of spiritual darkness and opposition.

Are you in fight?? In addition to your other regular prayers, find some fellow believers to strive with in prayer. Fight their spiritual battles alongside them, even if they are thousands of miles away. Go to the Father relentlessly on behalf of their needs and their work. Intercede with God for those who don’t yet know Jesus Christ. #FollowJesus

“But he said emphatically, ‘If I must die with you, I will not deny you.’ And they all said the same.” – Mark 14:31

It’s very easy to speak boldly of your courage and devotion when you’re safe, comfortable, and well-fed. Peter certainly did! But when the test came a few hours later, he completely failed. He pretended he’d never met Jesus! Could there be a worse betrayal??? Thankfully, by God’s grace, that failure didn’t define his life. Instead, what came to define Peter’s life was decades of bold ministry that included plenty of suffering for Jesus before reportedly ending in his own brutal death on a cross (upside down!)

What was the difference between Peter’s cowardice and courage? What will make the difference for you if you’re ever confronted with the opportunity to suffer for your faith? One key difference was the Holy Spirit. When Peter failed, he hadn’t yet received the Holy Spirit. When Peter succeeded, he not only had the Spirit, he was filled by the Spirit and the Spirit led Him. If you’ve put your faith in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, then you have the Spirit. But are you filled with the Spirit? Is the Spirit leading you and revealing His fruit in your life (increasing love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control)?

To walk in the Spirit with the boldness of Peter, you’ll need to do some fundamental things. You’ll need to break out of any sinful habits and patterns in your life, repenting of those sins and fighting to live like Jesus. You’ll need to get serious about worship, Bible reading and meditation, prayer, engaging in deep Christian relationships, serving God, and sharing your faith (we call that Five to Thrive). You’ll have to be intentional about turning control of your day and your life to God’s authority and expectations rather than your own. You’ll have to do what the Spirit prompts you to do, no matter how surprising or improbable.

Peter also came to understand some profoundly critical things. When he failed, he didn’t understand what Jesus was going to suffer and die to do for him. Later in life, Peter knew that his Lord and Savior had suffered humiliation, torture, and death to redeem him from his sins. Peter knew that Jesus had risen back to life having conquered the power of sin and death. He understood that the invitation to follow Jesus, even to suffering and death, was actually an invitation to enjoy eternal life with Jesus.

Do you have that understanding deep in your soul? Do you meditate regularly on the terrible price of your salvation and the glorious victory that you share in through Jesus Christ? Do you really know what Jesus did for you personally? Do you celebrate what that sacrifice has changed about and in you? Regularly meditate on these things and trust that as a Spirit-filled follower of Jesus, you have everything you need to glorify Jesus should suffering and persecution find you. #FollowJesus

“And Jesus said to him, ‘Do you see these great buildings? There will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.’” – Mark 13:2

When we stand next to enormous, beautiful buildings, it’s natural to imagine they’ll last forever. Beside them, we feel so small while they seem so large and permanent. Gazing at the stately buildings that fill the capitals of the nations, we imagine they’ll always be standing there. But they won’t – Jesus was very blunt about that.

The beautiful temple His disciples were marveling at was destroyed just a few decades later. That’s the way of this fallen world. Buildings get destroyed. Nations fall. Empires crumble. These things aren’t permanent. However, one thing IS permanent – the Kingdom of God. The Kingdom that Jesus came to establish will last forever. It’s a kingdom of eternal life in Him. It’s an eternity of delighting in God’s presence and enjoying the fellowship of believers from every tribe, ethnic group, and nation.

Don’t give too much energy or attention to things that won’t last. If you have eternal life in Jesus Christ, devote yourself to God’s Kingdom instead. Invest your earthly life, energy, time, talent, and treasure into helping others enter the eternal Kingdom. Share your hope in Christ with those you meet in life. Pray and support those who are doing likewise all over the world. By doing that, you touch eternity and alter the course of generations to come. Seek first the Kingdom of God because it will last forever! #FollowJesus