“Amelia,” I voiced in my most animated Lolly accent. “Let’s go take Jake outside and check the mail. You need your shoes.” She plopped down on the welcome mat, waiting for help with her slip-ons, then she ran out the door ahead of me, alternately dancing and running every step of the way. My granddaughter has been with me for three day and nights while her mom and dad were in the hospital delivering her baby brother, Ezra. Today she’ll be going home. She’s napping now and I’m packing up her things. As I walk by the front door, I spy her little shoes on the mat next to mine. All of the outdoor adventures of the past few hot summer days from playing water table, swinging on the rocket ship, feeding the fish, to making water footprints on the hot sidewalk quickly flood my mind. I will miss her pitter-patter around the house.
She’s too little for games just yet. Hide and seek and follow the leader are lost on her. She hides her eyes in plain sight and she only wants to be chased. When we’re outside she’s typically in the lead because it’s easier to shadow her than to wonder if she’s actually following. She will grow into games like these by watching others older than herself playing. Toddlers copy the hiding places of older siblings, sometimes squeezing into the same spot at the last minute and giving it away to the seeker. Little ones think it’s fun to dart in front of the leader, thinking, “if I’m in front then I’m leading,” but that’s not at all what Jesus taught. He modeled servant leadership for us perfectly. His words always matched His actions. He shows us how to lead by completely surrendering to God.
“I surrender my own life, and no one has the power to take my life from me.
I have the authority to lay it down and the power to take it back again.
This is the destiny my Father has set before me.””
John 10:18 TPT
https://bible.com/bible/1849/jhn.10.18.TPT
“And whoever comes to me must follow in my steps and be willing to share my cross and experience it as his own, or he is not worthy of me.
Those who cling to their lives will give up true life. But those who let go of their lives for my sake and surrender it all to me will discover true life!”
Matthew 10:38-39 TPT
https://bible.com/bible/1849/mat.10.38-39.TPT
“You find God’s favor by deciding to please God even when you endure hardships because of unjust suffering.
For what merit is it to endure mistreatment for wrongdoing? Yet if you are mistreated when you do what is right, and you faithfully endure it, this is commendable before God.
In fact, you were called to live this way, because Christ also suffered in your place, leaving you his example for you to follow.
He never sinned and he never spoke deceitfully. When he was verbally abused, he did not return with an insult; when he suffered, he would not threaten retaliation.
Jesus faithfully entrusted himself into the hands of God, who judges righteously.
He himself carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we would be dead to sin and live for righteousness.
Our instant healing flowed from his wounding.
You were like sheep that continually wandered away, but now you have returned to the true Shepherd of your lives—the kind Guardian who lovingly watches over your souls.”
1 Peter 2:19-25 TPT
https://bible.com/bible/1849/1pe.2.19-25.TPT
The kind Guardian who lovingly watches over your soul never sleeps. (Psalm 121:4) Our Shepherd leads us to sustaining pastures beside quiet waters, nurturing us body and soul, mind and spirit. He provides everything we need for living a godly life and leads us in right paths so that His name will be honored. (Psalm 23, II Peter 1:3) Yet He says, “Behold, I’m standing at the door, knocking. If your heart is open to hear my voice and you open the door within, I will come in to you and feast with you, and you will feast with me.” (Revelation 3:20 TPT
https://bible.com/bible/1849/rev.3.20.TPT)
He does not force Himself on anyone. Jesus has been standing at the door knocking since before creation because you and I were in the mind of our Creator God always. We were not a new thought that dawned on God almighty. We were not suggested by anything or anyone. All-knowing God purposed that we should be and therefore we exist.
“You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory, honor, and power, for you created all things, and for your pleasure (and by Your plan) they were created and exist.”
Revelation 4:11 TPT
https://bible.com/bible/1849/rev.4.11.TPT
“And that about wraps it up.
God is strong, and he wants you strong. So take everything the Master has set out for you, well-made weapons of the best materials. And put them to use so you will be able to stand up to everything the Devil throws your way.
This is no weekend war that we’ll walk away from and forget about in a couple of hours.
This is for keeps, a life-or-death fight to the finish against the Devil and all his angels.
Be prepared. You’re up against far more than you can handle on your own.
Take all the help you can get, every weapon God has issued, so that when it’s all over but the shouting you’ll still be on your feet.
Truth, righteousness, peace, faith, and salvation are more than words. Learn how to apply them. You’ll need them throughout your life.
God’s Word is an indispensable weapon.
In the same way, prayer is essential in this ongoing warfare. Pray hard and long. Pray for your brothers and sisters.
Keep your eyes open.
Keep each other’s spirits up so that no one falls behind or drops out.”
Ephesians 6:10-18 MSG
https://bible.com/bible/97/eph.6.10-18.MSG
Spiritually dark forces wreak havoc in the heavenlies. (Ephesians 6:12) We have enemies led by the prince of this world who seek only to kill, steal, and destroy. (John 8:23, 12:31, 14:30) Jesus said,” I have come so you may have full abundant joy-filled life.” (John 10:10) He walked before us, experiencing every temptation, every trial, and every emotion we will ever face and He did so without sinning. (Hebrews 4:15) God’s word promises that the same Holy Spirit power that raised Jesus from death lives in us when we embrace the God-life made available by the sacrificial blood of Christ, and that victory is ours through Christ who loved us so much He died for us. (Ephesians 1:19, Romans 8:37)
Jesus warned, “A thief has only one thing in mind—he wants to steal, slaughter, and destroy. But I have come to give you everything in abundance, more than you expect —life in its fullness until you overflow!
I am the Good Shepherd who lays down my life as a sacrifice for the sheep.
I alone am the Good Shepherd, and I know those whose hearts are mine, for they recognize me and know me,”
John 10:10-11, 14 TPT
https://bible.com/bible/1849/jhn.10.10-14.TPT
“I am the sprouting vine and you’re my branches.
As you live in union with me as your source, fruitfulness will stream from within you—but when you live separated from me you are powerless.
When your lives bear abundant fruit, you demonstrate that you are my mature disciples who glorify my Father!
I love each of you with the same love that the Father loves me.
You must continually let my love nourish your hearts.
If you keep my commands, you will live in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands, for I continually live nourished and empowered by his love.
My purpose for telling you these things is so that the joy that I experience will fill your hearts with overflowing gladness!”
John 15:5, 8-11 TPT
https://bible.com/bible/1849/jhn.15.5-11.TPT
In Me, Jesus promises, your joy will be complete.
What’s competing for your heart? Who’s leading? You or Jesus?
Counterfeit joy can’t last.
The enemy will eventually throw you under the bus and leave you drowning in regret or drunk with power and self sufficiency but it’s all temporary. A day is coming when every knee will bow and every tongue confess Jesus as Lord to the glory of God the Father. (Romans 14:11-12) In an act of compulsory praise, every mouth, every voice, living and dead will give honor to the One to whom all honor and glory and praise are due now and forevermore. The Bible alone holds the answer to what happens next. Not knowing is only an option as long as we live and breathe, for the moment we close our eyes on this world we enter the next, prepared or not.
“SO THEN, brethren, consecrated and set apart for God, who share in the heavenly calling, [thoughtfully and attentively] consider Jesus, the Apostle and High Priest Whom we confessed [as ours when we embraced the Christian faith].”
Hebrews 3:1 AMPC
https://bible.com/bible/8/heb.3.1.AMPC
“For the [remarkable, undeserved] grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men.
It teaches us to reject ungodliness and worldly (immoral) desires, and to live sensible, upright, and godly lives [with a purpose that reflects spiritual maturity] in this present age, awaiting and confidently expecting the [fulfillment of our] blessed hope and the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, who [willingly] gave Himself [to be crucified] on our behalf to redeem us and purchase our freedom from all wickedness, and to purify for Himself a chosen and very special people to be His own possession, who are enthusiastic for doing what is good. [Deut 14:2; Ps 130:8; Ezek 37:23]”
Titus 2:11-14 AMP
https://bible.com/bible/1588/tit.2.11-14.AMP
“As God’s loving servants, you should live in complete freedom, but never use your freedom as a cover-up for evil.”
1 Peter 2:16 TPT
https://bible.com/bible/1849/1pe.2.16.TPT
“Therefore, each one must answer for himself and give a personal account of his own life before God.”
Romans 14:12 TPT
https://bible.com/bible/1849/rom.14.12.TPT
“Pay careful attention to your own work, for then you will get the satisfaction of a job well done, and you won’t need to compare yourself to anyone else.
For we are each responsible for our own conduct.
Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant.
Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature.
But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit.
So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.”
Galatians 6:4-5, 7-9 NLT
A Fitting Reply 