I just enrolled in seminary!
My goal in studying in this formal way is to gain the knowledge necessary to write books about and for Jesus Christ. I’ve felt led in this way for almost a year now.
The seminary I enrolled in is Redemption Seminary, https://redemptionseminary.org/
Following Jesus is often synonymous with abandoning other things…things we don’t want to abandon. He calls us to do just that.
Abandoning maybe family, maybe friends and maybe romance interests, who are just headed down a dark path away from Christ.
Abandoning our politics with its idolatry about the government.
Abandoning grudges and bitterness in exchange for forgiveness and mercy.
Abandonment of the pursuit of money. for the constant pursuit of Jesus Christ. Which can subtract from our net worth.
Abandoning the hoarding of money to the giving of money away.
Abandoning constant leisure and pleasure for suffering for his name’s sake.
But…If we can keep our eyes fixed on Him, it’s not so hard. He makes it tolerable and sometimes easy.
When Jesus is seeking someone it can be very obvious. When he is after a man or woman to reveal himself inwardly, nothing can stand in his way… except perhaps that person. And when that person begins to respond according to how they are being pursued, every homily, every sermon, ever discussion of theology, or philosophy and even every old church tradition can urge her along.
It is only a matter of time and of response. A matter of surrender. Sometimes he’ll whisper to a person in silence for years. Other times He’ll send a person on their path who will seem to be screaming the words of Christ to them. Exactly what they need to hear when they need to hear it. And exploding spiritual light into their spiritual eyes.
It’s one of the most wonderful things to experience and almost as wonderful to watch happen in others.
But …when that is just not happening, as much as we wish it were, and try to make it happen for ourselves or others, no sermon, no amount of church attendance, no amount of paying tithes and offerings, no bible study, no memorized passages, no amount of arguing and persuading matter. No amount of what we think to be good parenting or persuasive debating amounts to anything.
Jesus Christ reveals himself to people in his time and in his way. He personally and actively controls it … up to this very moment. All we can do is pray for ourselves and others to respond in a way that pleases the Lord. Respond in a spiritually violent manner, burn the ships. Be there for people to witness to him at the right time. Help others in a way that causes them to seek Jesus as much as HE is seeking them. So they can live his life.
Is Jesus seeking you? You probably sense it deep within if he is. If so I want to know, please reach out to me if you want help, or just someone to talk to.
CollierAk@me.com.
“It pleased the Father to reveal his Son in me.” – Apostle Paul
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