“Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.” – 1 Timothy 4:12

If you ever find yourself in a situation in which people are making you feel “less than”, remember these words. Timothy was young to be a pastor/teacher/leader. In that culture, some would be quick to dismiss him, ignore him, trivialize him, and make him feel “less than” simply because of his age. Paul’s advice isn’t for Timothy to loudly demand the people’s respect. It wasn’t to scream about his credentials and demand that he be treated based on his abundant spiritual gifts.

Instead, Paul tells Timothy to just be a good Christian. Rather than let people ignore him because of age, Paul says for Timothy to live as such a good example of what a follower of Jesus should look like that everyone will notice. Talk like Jesus. Act like Jesus. Love like Jesus. Believe like Jesus. Practice personal holiness like Jesus.

This advice remains good and relevant for your own life. If people want to dismiss you because you’re young, old, rich, poor, educated, uneducated, have a title, or don’t have a title, don’t fuss, fume, or fight about it. Instead, be a true follower of Jesus. Show everyone what it looks like to live a life transformed by Jesus into the very image of Jesus. People WILL notice. They’ll see your example, your love, your faith, your purity. They will want that for themselves. They’ll seek you out and invite you to invest in their lives because they can see that Jesus is active in your life.

Don’t worry about those who consider you “less than”. Don’t get caught up in what you “deserve”. Simply reveal Jesus through every aspect of your own life. #FollowJesus

“Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.” – John 15:2

If you’re a follower of Jesus, born again by God’s grace through faith in Jesus, then you are a branch connected to Jesus. He is the one true vine who nourishes and sustains every branch. God the Father takes care of the branches to keep the whole plant healthy. As a branch, your purpose isn’t just to hang around and be “branch-y”. Like any good branch on a grape vine, your purpose is to produce fruit. The good news is that as long as you’re well connected to the vine (Jesus) you don’t need to stress about making the fruit. A healthy branch will always produce fruit through that life-giving connection.

What kind of fruit should you be producing? The fruit of a changed life. The fruit of increasingly Christlike character. The fruit of new believers who heard the Gospel through you. The fruit of maturing disciples learning to follow Jesus from you. The fruit of good works of love and mercy done in the name of Jesus. The fruit of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control).

God the Vinedresser has a special technique He uses to help healthy branches produce even more, better, sweeter fruit. It’s called pruning! It involves cutting stuff out of your life. Stuff you feel pretty attached to. Stuff. that isn’t fruit. God wants to make you more fruitful by cutting things out of your life that waste your time, talent, and connection to Jesus. Some of those things are bad (habitual sin). Some of those things aren’t bad, just wasteful and distracting when done to excess (TV, smart phones, social media, etc.). Some of those things are good but not the best (ministries that you need to set down).

All of God’s pruning is for the good of His Kingdom. If you’re faithful in following and loving Jesus, expect to be pruned. Sometimes against your will. Let God prune things out of your life that keep you from being fruitful. Pray for God to prune things out of your life. Accept the discomfort (and even pain) of pruning and rejoice in the better fruit of a deeper connection to Jesus. #FollowJesus

“If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” – John 14:15

That Jesus can be pretty blunt, can’t He?!? The proof of your love for Jesus isn’t your jewelry, tattoos, bumper stickers, activities, or Sunday outfits. The proof that you actually love Jesus is your obedience. So, be honest with yourself…. Do you actually love Jesus?

Jesus has opinions about every single aspect of your life. He’s entitled to those opinions because He bought your freedom from sin, death, and the devil with His own blood. Jesus has authority over you because He literally holds the universe together. What He has commanded, you must do as His follower.

If you claim the name of Jesus but don’t obey His commands, you aren’t a follower of Jesus (see John 3:36). If you claim the name of Christ but don’t know what His commands are, you need to start studying your Bible!!! To be a Christian is to desire and strive to obey Christ in the power of His Spirit. We won’t be perfect but we must be serious in our efforts. If we aren’t, do we really love Him? #FollowJesus

“To this day I have had the help that comes from God, and so I stand here testifying both to small and great, saying nothing but what the prophets and Moses said would come to pass” – Acts 26:22

Most American Christians steer clear of the Old Testament because it is difficult to understand. If that describes you, please reconsider as you make your plans for the new year. As Paul explained in his trial, the coming of Jesus, His perfect life, His sacrificial death, His resurrection, and His glorious reign as King of Kings is exactly what Moses and the other Old Testament prophets promised. Jesus is the fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets of the Old Testament. All of the Old Testament points, in one way or another, toward Jesus. Understanding that connection helps you better understand Jesus.

As a Christian, your understanding of your faith and the New Testament deepens as you grow in your understanding of the Old Testament. For those fascinated by Revelation, it’s impossible to understand that book without knowing the Old Testament because it constantly references the Old Testament. Embrace the challenge of reading and studying the Old Testament if you haven’t done so recently. It’s certainly much older, more culturally distant, and harder to read. You won’t understand it perfectly on your first, second, third… read. However, each time you read it, it becomes a bit easier to understand. You see more of the connections within it and more of the ways it points toward and connects with the New Testament.

What are your plans to grow as a disciple of Jesus in the new year? What plan will you follow in reading and studying the Bible for yourself each day? What new area of Kingdom service or evangelism will you try? How will you seek your Lord more deeply and joyously in 2024? #FollowJesus

“In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” – Acts 20:35

This is a basic principle of Christianity but it can’t be repeated too often. Jesus came as a gift from God to rescue us from our sins and reconcile us to Himself. As followers of Jesus, we have received so much through Him that we should be deeply moved to give like Him. Sacrificially. Painfully. Joyfully. Freely.

During our earthly life, our greatest blessings come from pouring out our lives, energy, time, talent, and treasure to make disciples and care for those who are in need. This is particularly true during this special season when our celebration of the incarnation of Jesus is constantly bombarded with commercial messages about what we “need” or “deserve”. As nice as receiving presents can be, our restless, dissatisfied hearts will quickly move on from whatever we receive and begin desiring something bigger and better. On the other hand, what we give during this season, particularly to those who can’t afford to give back, is the greater and more lasting blessing.

If you want to truly be blessed this season, focus on giving. Work hard to be able to give more. As we enter the final stretch run to Christmas, how is your mix of giving vs. receiving? Are you embracing the blessing of abundant, overflowing generosity? You will be blessed! #FollowJesus