Do you say, I must study? You must first make up your mind to do all for Christ,–else study can be no acceptable duty. When Jesus says to you–”My son, give me thy heart,” he wants nothing else instead of your heart. He does not wish to be put off with some other duty, than the very one he calls for. When he says–”Follow me;” he demands an explicit answer, whether you will or no,  and he cannot accept anything evasive.
-Charles G. Finney

Jesus wants followers, not Bible scholars

It’s frightening to think we can know the Bible inside out and yet not give Christ our hearts. The Word becomes another duty, rather than the only source of life. God isn’t calling Bible scholars, he’s calling Christ followers!

Reading the Bible to follow Christ

Before opening our Bibles, we must answer with “Yes, I will follow”–that is, to follow Christ with our heart. When we open the Word with the intention of following what Christ is speaking to us throught it, then, and only then, can the Word truly have its full effect on our hearts.

Learning to follow,
Tom Fogarty

He must increase, but I must decrease.
(John 3:30 ESV)

The consequence of God increasing in our lives is that we decrease. The spotlight isn’t on us… it’s not about us. Let His light shine through you, be transparent so that people see right through you and see Jesus. There is a battle inside of us of our own pride against Christ’s call for us to die to ourselves. I won’t give in to pride, I want to see him Glorified!

If people see me, I have failed. If people see Christ in me, He has succeeded.

Jesus, make me more like you, that I might die.
Amen