God is always speaking, He loves to communicate with His creation. And because you and I are His treasured possession, He wants us to know how much He loves and cares for us. But we have to have ears to hear Him.
Because God is beyond our understanding, when He speaks it isn't singular. When God speaks it has layers of meanings and applications. When God speaks it's like multi-task speaking. If it was important for God's words to have only one meaning and be only literal then Jesus wouldn't have spoken in parables. But God loves us to search for Him and seek Him so He gives us a way to do that.
When God speaks it always has a bigger meaning than we first realize. Growing up in the church I knew that "Follow Me" were the words of Jesus. And back then I only understood that to mean that when we follow Jesus it means we've asked Him into our heart as our personal Lord and Savior. And for you and I, that is the first application - but there is more.
Jesus also meant "follow in my footsteps." To believe in Him is also to do as He does. It was (and is) this beautiful invitation to come with Him, study with Him, learn from Him, and then take what you learn and put it into action, just as Jesus did.
It has broken my heart to see "the church" sit in the backseat during 2020 and 2021 allowing culture to dictate to the church. Regardless of what you believe or what you stand for, that stance is not biblical. Scripture tells us to not conform to the ways of this world. And it says this is several different places, under several difference circumstances.
Romans 12:2
And do not be conformed to this world [any longer with its superficial values and customs], but be transformed and progressively changed [as you mature spiritually] by the renewing of your mind [focusing on godly values and ethical attitudes], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His plan and purpose for you].
2 Timothy 1:9
for He delivered us and saved us and called us with a holy calling [a calling that leads to a consecrated life—a life set apart—a life of purpose], not because of our works [or because of any personal merit—we could do nothing to earn this], but because of His own purpose and grace [His amazing, undeserved favor] which was granted to us in Christ Jesus before the world began [eternal ages ago]
We can be comfortable and conformist, or we can be biblical. God doesn't allow us to be both.
I'm so passionate about getting back to the foundational teachings of Christianity! Messages and teachings get muddled over time. (We've all played telephone before as a child, right? The beginning message is rarely ever the same message that the last person in line receives.) So we have to take it upon ourselves to get back into the original teachings of Jesus. We need to read the word for ourselves and be shepherded by someone who wants to walk us through God's word, in context, with revelation and understanding of God's bigger message. And then be ready to fight and not compromise God's truths.
If you are ready to hear God's bigger message, join me for 7 months of transformation. We are condensing our 9-month course into 7 months and will be starting another at the end of January on Monday afternoons, Pacific Time.