Follow Me.

Follow me.  That is what Jesus told the disciples when He called them.  That is what He told the rich young man.  Matthew 4:19  Jesus called out to them,"Come, follow me and I will show you how to fish for people!"  Matthew 9:9  As Jesus was walking along, He saw a man named Matthew sitting at his tax collectors booth.  "Follow me and be my disciple," Jesus said to him.  So Matthew got up and followed him.  Matthew 19:21  Jesus told him, "If you want to be perfect, go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor,and you will have treasure in heaven.  Then come, follow Me."  

Micah 6:8  No, O people, the Lord has told you what is good, and this is what He requires of you;  to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God. 

John 15:8  When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples.  This brings great glory to My Father.

What are all these verses leading to?  They all point to the place God is leading me right now.  They point to our primary purpose in life and how we are to live.

Sometimes I've felt like I can't get anything right.  No matter how hard I try, people are just not going to be happy with the way I do something, or what I am doing.  They expect more, and I fail to live up to their expectations.  And that leads to a downward spiral of self-doubt, negative thoughts and an anxious unease in my heart.  It all comes from trying to live up to others expectations and forgetting that I live for only one.

But God has had His teaching for me highlighting what HE wants from my life, HIS primary purpose for me.  John 15:16  You didn't choose Me, I chose you.  I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using My name.  

Where is God pointing here?  To teach me His chief desire for my life is glorifying Him and bearing fruit.  It's not to impress others.  It's not to be the best at everything.  It's to live a life that honors the Lord, and bears fruit for the kingdom.  All other purposes, callings, jobs, tasks, works are secondary, playing supporting roles in the main act of life.

Colossians 3:23  Work willing at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than people.  Everything I do is to be for Him.  And everything I do is to be done with excellence, to the best of my ability.  But pleasing people is not the objective.  Getting their approval is not the goal. When I remember this, when I seek only to please God and live for His purposes I am set free from people's expectations and opinions.  When I know I've done my best for Him, I am at peace.

I love the way God shines a spotlight on what He wants me to learn.  I've gone back over some of His teaching lately and I can see this thread running through it.  I have been given the Holy Spirit in order to live my life following Jesus.  And Jesus glorified God by loving others, being a blessing, teaching salvation and pleasing His Father.  He didn't live to please man.  He didn't live to glorify Himself.  And I want to live like He did.

Lord, help me.  I cannot do this on my own.  I am easily swayed by human opinion.  Easily intimidated by rejection.  Give me boldness to live for You.  Give me wisdom to know how to do that.  Narrow my focus.  Thank You for all the areas You have put me in that I may do this.  Thank You for the gifts and talents You give so that they may contribute to Your goal for my life.  I know now that You have me in certain places for the express purpose of bringing others to You.  That is what I am supposed to be doing.  Let me do it eagerly, and urgently.

Understand today that your main purpose is to glorify God and bring fruit for the kingdom.  Mull that over, along with the above Scriptures.