Author: Brian Burdett

“When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, “Fear not, I am the first and the last, and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.” – Revelation 1:17-18

One of the most precious and important things revealed about Jesus in the “Revelation of Jesus Christ” is Who He is right now. Jesus is the first and the last. He is eternal, not created, and He is undying. He is God the Son, the Second Person of the Godhead. Jesus is the living one. Not dead but eternally risen and alive forevermore. He alone holds the keys of death and hell. He is the Just Judge of all mankind.

Jesus isn’t some abstract idea. He isn’t like famous dead religious leaders of the past. He isn’t a pleasant memory of a once great teacher or prophet. He is alive forever! He is ruling and reigning over creation with the keys of life and death, heaven and hell in His nail-scarred hands. This is Who you’re invited to entrust your life to. This is Who you have a relationship with if you’ve put your faith in Him. This is Who will never leave nor forsake you. Who is surely with you all of the days until He returns at the end of the age.

This is who invites you to take up your cross each morning and follow Him. The leader, guide, and God Who is forevermore. The living King and Judge of all creation. He is worthy to be followed. His burden is light if you will bind yourself to Him and walk in step with Him. Accept His invitation and #FollowJesus

“When Herod saw Jesus, he was very glad, for he had long desired to see him, because he had heard about him, and he was hoping to see some sign done by him.” – Luke 23:8

This encounter between Herod Antipas and Jesus is a perfect illustration of the limitations of miracles. Herod wasn’t seeking God. He wasn’t interested in salvation. He didn’t want to hear and understand the message of Jesus. He just wanted a show! Something to amuse and amaze him. Something he could talk about at parties.

This was a common reaction during the earthly ministry of Jesus. Crowds flocked to Him to see or benefit from His miracles. But few truly listened or believed with life-changing faith. Such is the surprisingly limited impact of miracles. Miracles certainly can draw a crowd. Those most directly touched by them may well come to believe. But they don’t tend to produce widespread faith. That typically comes through the teaching and proclamation of the good news. Jesus understood and lamented this reality during His time on earth.

In all likelihood, this is why God remains strategic about when He performs miracles. God is always present and always at work in the world. But bringing people to faith is primarily accomplished through the work of the Holy Spirit in response to the sharing, teaching, and preaching of the Gospel. Miracles have their place, especially where God’s Kingdom is first breaking into an area. However, God knows that miracles are far less impactful from an eternal perspective than we imagine.

Can God work miracles? Absolutely! Does God work miracles? Certainly! Is it right to pray for and celebrate miracles? Of course! But never forget that it is the personal sharing of the Gospel that is God’s top way to bring people to the greatest miracle of all – becoming new creation as a gift of grace given through faith in Jesus Christ! #FollowJesus

“And when he came to the place, he said to them, ‘Pray that you may not enter into temptation.’” – Luke 22:40

As Jesus was going into the Garden of Gethsemane to prepare Himself for the cross through prayer, He gave these instructions to His disciples. Jesus would use the next few hours to wrestle in prayer with some profoundly deep aspects of God’s will. His disciples, on the other hand, simply needed to be praying for themselves. For the trial ahead of them. That they wouldn’t be tempted by cowardice to run away or deny knowing Jesus (they did). That they wouldn’t give in to the temptation to sleep rather than laboring faithfully in prayer in solidarity with Jesus (they did).

Had they prayed as Jesus told them to, only God can say how their experience that night might have been different. However, clearly they didn’t pray and they certainly gave into temptation. Let that be a lesson to us – it is good and appropriate to pray that we don’t enter into temptation. We should be actively praying for that alongside all our other prayer requests. Those are prayers God will often answer by the sheltering and strengthening power of His Spirit in you. Make time each day to pray seriously for yourself that you wouldn’t enter into temptation. #FollowJesus

“And he was seeking to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was small in stature. So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, for he was about to pass that way.” – Luke 19:3-4

Zacchaeus was eager to see Jesus. VERY eager! Despite his prominent standing in the community as a chief tax collector, he happily abandoned his dignity and climbed a tree like a young child. Just to catch a glimpse of Jesus! And Jesus blessed him for it.

This Advent season, how eager are you to see Jesus? How excited are you to draw near to Him in quiet prayer and meditation? To worship Him in public and private? To read and hear His words? To proclaim the good news of His birth? Are you “Zacchaeus eager”? If not, why not? What would you need to change to recapture childlike excitement about Christmas and the coming of Jesus?

Think about that carefully. Then do it! Don’t hold back, climb a tree! #FollowJesus

“But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” – Luke 18:13-14

Jesus and the Apostles repeatedly remind and challenge us not to think too highly of our virtue. We didn’t save ourselves. We can’t save ourselves. God didn’t save us because He knew how great we’d be, He saved us because of how great Jesus is! We must not forget these things and begin thinking our spiritual progress makes us something bigger or better than what we are. It is more than enough to be a precious and much-loved child of God saved as a gift of His grace through faith in His Son.

When we’re tempted to pat ourselves on the back because of positive changes in our lives, let us remember to praise God for them. When we’re tempted to look down on others who haven’t made the same progress we have, let us instead pray for them while thanking God for His glorious work in our lives. Any time we’re tempted to exalt ourselves, let us instead make much of God, for He has made much of us!

This isn’t about trashing yourself or constantly beating yourself up over past mistakes that God has forgiven. This isn’t about false modesty or humility. This is about letting your heart continually be captured by the holiness and grace of Jesus that blesses you each and every day. Never forget it! May God continue to exalt you as you walk humbly before Him! #FollowJesus