One of the most recycled posts on social media is a picture of a very large speaker with this caption: “If you could play just one song on this speaker, what would it be?”
I want to give it my own spin and ask myself, “If I could speak to every new believer at the same time and they were listening attentively, what would I tell them?” This blogpost is an answer to this question.
I am writing this because I was once in your shoes; just like you, I made the decision to place my faith in Jesus for salvation, forsaking the familiar yet empty life I once lived and embracing the fullness of life that only Jesus can provide. Just like some of you might have experienced, I felt a wave of uneasiness as I thought about the cost of following Jesus. A ‘what have I gotten myself into’ kind of feeling. But over the years, like you will grow to discover, I have found that there is absolutely nothing that I will surrender for following Jesus that can be compared with the surpassing delight of knowing Him and walking with Him.
So, as you embark on this holy journey with the Lord, there are certain things I want you to always remember:
1. The same gospel’s message that you believed for salvation is the same message that keeps you.
You have begun by the Spirit of God, and you can only continue by the Spirit of God (Galatians 3:3). Every day you wake up, trust in the power of God to sustain you, the mercy of God to help you, and the grace of God to teach you. You display this trust in God by making a conscious decision to daily abide in Him — through His word and through prayer.
Feast on God’s word; there is a lot to learn about Jesus in the word. Start from the New Testament; Romans is a good place to learn more about the gospel’s message. Ephesians will teach you a lot about the conducts of a new man in Christ. As you grow more in love with God’s word, you will grow more in love with Him. As you study the word more, you build and strengthen your convictions.
Cultivate a habit of talking to Jesus by having a prayer life. Have specific times when you speak with the Lord; you can start with 15 minutes and grow from there. But don’t limit your fellowship with the Lord strictly to those times. Pray as you commute to school, work, or the grocery store. Pray as you do the dishes. Always be in communication with Him. Create an environment that encourages you to pray; listening to edifying worship songs is a good way to do so.
2. The local church is God’s design for your spiritual edification and growth.
If you are yet to join a local church, please do. As a believer in the death and resurrection of Jesus, you are now a part of God’s family. It is His will that all who belong to His family fellowship with one another, as those who are a part of one body (1 Corinthians 12:12-14). The body of Christ is for our spiritual edification, exhortation, and growth. Ephesians 4:11-13 says that God gave us spiritual leaders so that we are equipped for the work of ministry and edified, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of Jesus, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.
The necessity of the church is also emphasized in Hebrews 10:24-25, where we are instructed to not forsake the gathering of the saints. The accountability that you will need on your Christian journey can be found in the church, where you are under the leadership and oversight of a trained spiritual leader.
When choosing a local church, ensure that they teach the gospel of Jesus and that they exalt the truth and sufficiency of God’s word above everything else. If you know other believers, ask them what church they attend. Last but equally important, pray for the Lord to order your steps to the church He will have you attend, and trust that His Spirit will lead you to the right place.
3. When you join a local church, be actively involved.
This does not mean that you should begin serving on a team immediately, but take part in the structures and programs they have put in place for your discipleship and growth. Attend midweek services and join prayer meetings as often as you can. Is there a house fellowship location close to you? Meet with them. Even on the days you don’t feel like it, especially on those days. Get to know other members, and let them know you too.
Being in the company of believers frequently does something significant to you and your walk with God that shouldn’t be overlooked. If bad company corrupts good manners, good company encourages good ones. Let the body of Christ do for you what the Lord intended it to do, and let it be for you what the Lord intended it to be.
4. Make godly friends that can spur you unto good works (Hebrews 10:24).
Be intentional about building relationships with people that encourage spiritual and godly things. Proverbs 27:17 says, “As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend.” Be vulnerable and honest with them. Ask them questions. Pray together. Share stories about your daily walks with Jesus with one another. As your church members begin to know you more, seek for opportunities to meet with them outside of church services as well.
5. You have made the decision for Jesus to be Lord over your life, so you must let Him.
Jesus said in Mark 8:34 that whoever desires to be His disciple must deny themselves, take up their cross, and follow Him. To deny yourself is to disown yourself, that is, to surrender ownership over your life to Jesus Himself. To deny yourself is to let Jesus be Lord over every area of your life, no matter the cost. Jackie Hill Perry once said, “You will give God anything when you believe He is everything.” He really is everything.
And as you spend more time with the Lord, He will begin to transform your desires so that they are aligned to His. He will correct mindsets, habits, and behaviours that need to be corrected. The same power that raised Christ from the dead is able to give life to your mortal body, so that you live according to the Spirit and not the flesh.
This is what it means to truly be God’s masterpiece. The work of His hands. “I am God’s masterpiece” is not a cool term that makes us feel good about ourselves. It is a call to holiness and responsibility. The full verse, Ephesians 2:10 says, “For we are His masterpiece, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” Similarly, 2 Timothy 2:21 says if anyone cleanses himself from the things that are dishonourable, he will be a vessel of honour, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work. Then, the following verse instructs us to flee from youthful lusts, but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
Jesus freely gave Himself to redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people (holy people) who are zealous for good works (Titus 2:14). To be on a holy journey with a holy God, we must be holy; separate from unrighteousness and actively pursuing what is good and righteous. We show our reverence and love for the Lord when we find delight in the things that please Him. To live out the faith that we profess, we must submit to the authority of God’s word and lead lives consecrated to Him.
One more thing to always keep in mind:
You are not being an ‘extra Christian’ by living this way, you are being an obedient child of God who desires to live the way He has instructed believers to live. There is a standard of living expected from every believer, and as 2 Timothy 2:19 says, “The Lord knows those who are His and let everyone who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity.”
You are now a new man in Christ; this must be evident in your character and in your conduct. Trust God and allow His Spirit do His sanctifying work in you. It is Him who works in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure (Philippians 2:13). Continue to partner with the Holy Spirit, He makes all the difference. Remain steadfast in the Lord and in the power of His might. Till He returns or calls us home.
Here’s a great addition by my friend: “You already got the most important decision of your life right when you chose to follow God. You trusted God when the enemy was trying to confuse you. Trust that the Spirit that brought you to Jesus that will direct your path & take you to the right destination on this journey.”
You are always in my prayers, brother/sister. Welcome home!
Here is a song you should listen to:
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