Easter weekend we traveled to the S.C. coast to spend the Holy weekend with our daughter who is in college there. We attended Easter service at All Saints Church with my stepmother, Claire. It had been nearly three years since my last visit to All Saints, which was for my father’s funeral. I knew that after spending time with Rector Rob Grafe during my father’s long illness, my family would hear Gospel truths from the pulpit. We were encouraged by the message “Too Good to be True?” as we were reminded that most “free” things in life are too good to be true. However, God’s gift of salvation does not meet that description. Salvation is freely given to those who receive it and are called to become His children.
On the way to Georgetown where we would celebrate over dinner, I was reflecting on all that I have learned about what it means to follow and fully embrace Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior freely offered in the Gospel. I have been blessed from our slow walk through Mark’s Gospel in the FLM Forums this year, taking a deep dive into what Jesus meant when he said, “Follow me”. And in the Spring GRIP Guide which has me journaling through Matthew’s Gospel, my friend and mentor David Andes writes, “In Matthew, Jesus seems to use a whole bucket full of word pictures to describe the complete transfer of trust that leads to salvation and following Jesus as Lord.” I recalled many of the word pictures that have been etched in my mind and heart. Repent from your old way of living and follow me. (Matt. 4, 11 & 12)
· Seek first the Kingdom of God (Matt. 6)
· Do the Father’s will…not yours (Matt. 7 & 12)
· Love Him more than your deep love and affection for your family (Matt. 10)
· Take up your cross; Lose Your life for His sake (Matt. 10)
· Deny yourself (Matt. 16)
God was making the message I just heard preached vivid to my soul. A few days later, I expressed to my family that we must push back against the “easy believe-ism” that has captivated so many minds in our church culture today. Even Jesus warned: “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.”
Easter weekend cries out: “The death of a son requires a response.” May we take these months after Easter to allow the Holy Spirit to call out in us the fullness of our response to the Lamb of God. In the words of the modern hymn:
I follow Jesus, I follow Jesus
He wore my sin, I’ll gladly wear His name
He is the treasure, He is the answer
I choose the Jesus way!
Click Here For YouTube Video of The Jesus Way
Written by: Jason Yarborough
