Marking The Relationship!

When a young man finds the girl with whom he wants to GET SERIOUS about the relationship, the first step is a marriage proposal. Some proposals have taken place in strange places (i.e. while skydiving, at a ballgame, etc.) or have been made special through great detail going into the setting up of the occasion. Still, the words most often spoken are the usual, “Will you marry me?” Those were not the words I used when I proposed to my wife. When I BECAME SERIOUS about the relationship, I was also considering doing mission work. Therefore, my words were, “Would you go with me?”, because I needed someone who was willing to FOLLOW ME wherever the work of God might take me. I still thank God she was willing. Through the years we have been challenged in the work at various places and times, but my wife has continued to FOLLOW ME and been a tremendous encourager and supporter of my labors in the Lord. She has even done this in a sacrificial manner.

Remember the beautiful relationship between Ruth and her mother-in-law Naomi. Though Ruth’s husband had died, she was SERIOUS about keeping the relationship with her mother-in-law and so her words to Naomi were. . .

“(16) But Ruth said, ‘Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you. For WHERE YOU GO I WILL GO, and WHERE YOU LODGE I WILL LODGE. YOUR PEOPLE shall be MY PEOPLE, and YOUR GOD MY GOD. (17) WHERE YOU DIE I WILL DIE, and there will I be buried. May the LORD do so to me and more also if anything but death parts me from you.’” ( Ruth 1:16-17 ESV)

Though Ruth was a Moabite, she returned with Naomi to Bethlehem. Then through a series of events and her continued faithfulness to her mother-in-law, Ruth became a part of the lineage of Jesus, being the great grandmother of David. ( Matthew 1:5-6)

When Jesus began calling others to BECOME SERIOUS about the relationship He desired for them to have with Him, that calling was accompanied by the words “FOLLOW ME!” That is what Jesus told Peter and Andrew. ( Mark 1:16-17) Jesus also used those words when He called Levi [also called Matthew, ( Matthew 9:9)] while he was busy collecting taxes. ( Mark 2:14) Later on Peter acknowledged having left everything to FOLLOW HIM. ( Mark 10:28) Peter and the others were SERIOUS about the relationship. What about us?

This SERIOUSNESS of discipleship was stated by Jesus when He said. . .
“And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, ‘IF ANYONE WOULD COME AFTER ME, LET HIM DENY HIMSELF AND TAKE UP HIS CROSS AND FOLLOW ME.” ( Mark 8:34 ESV)

If we are going to BE SERIOUS about the relationship with Jesus, we also must be willing to FOLLOW HIM! It is imperative that this mark the relationship we have with Him because anyone who does not follow, “is not worthy of” Him. ( Matthew 10:38) The preceding verses point to the necessity of Jesus holding first place of all our relationships. May such mark our continued following.

Have a great day SERIOUS ABOUT STICKING WITH THE SAVIOR!
Carl

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