4.28- Who are you following and why?

4.28-

Easter, 2019 Plus One
Try to imagine if you were alive in 1636 and someone suggested that it would be good to start a college to provide a better education for ministers. A person could have said, “Why waste money on education for ministers? Their work is really not that significant.” You just missed out on the timely decision to create Harvard University. In 1776 people were going to gather to write a document for the benefit of their country. Were there people who skipped the meeting and went out to plow their corn. Perhaps, but they would have missed the writing of the U.S. Constitution.

There are times of tectonic, plate shifting times that we should be very alert and careful.
During these times who we follow is critical. Jesus said, “Follow me.” If you do this, He will make you a fisher of men.

Paul who followed Jesus said, “Imitate me as I imitate Jesus Christ.”
Peter said about his own life, “We do not follow cleverly devised stories.”
John wrote to his students, “Test those who claim to speak to you words from God.”

During times of change it is important to think deeply about who you follow and why. Who are your models for how to live a good life? What is the outcome of their lives?

In the time frame of 1977 to 1980 I lost four of my minister friends in an airplane crash. I also heard about the suicide of Jim Jones and his followers. What was the outcome of their lives?

This morning I am reflecting on some men in their 70s and 80s and noticing how their lives have worked out. They are still working. They are still doing what they have done all their adult life. They are serving their wives, children, grandchildren and great great grandchildren and still making an impact on their wider community for good. I look at what they focused on in their lives. Where did they spend their discretionary time and money?

During crisis be careful who you are following. The Chinese character for “crisis” is danger and opportunity. Who are you following and why? Where will you are your family end up?

Larry Wishard
4.22.19
Happy Easter Plus One

Matthew 4.
¹⁸ As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. ¹⁹ “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” ²⁰ At once they left their nets and followed him.
²¹ Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them, ²² and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.

Matthew 7.
¹⁵ “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. ¹⁶ By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? ¹⁷ Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. ¹⁸ A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. ¹⁹ Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. ²⁰ Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.

True and False Disciples

²¹ “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. ²² Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ ²³ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’