08/08/2022
By Pastor Vinnie Cappetta
"Follow the Leader…He’s Been Where You Are Going"
People say there are many ways to God. They say all religions basically teach the same precepts. While many of the principles of religions may seem similar, Christianity has fundamental differences and Ephesians 5:1 focuses on one of the most critical differences. In the New Testament, God does not give us a bunch of laws to follow; He tells us to follow Him. He wants us to be like Him; He wants us to follow His lead.
Christianity is the only religion whose God has scars. Think about that for a moment. Jesus commands Christians to love others no matter what. We are to serve others and live holy lives. The best part about this is that not only do we have instructions to follow but we also have an example to follow! Jesus has the scars to prove the love that He has for us and for those who put Him on the cross.
Anyone who has ever put furniture together knows how helpful it is to have a model to follow. Our family picked up a dresser from Wal-mart last fall. I spent a couple of hours watching the History Channel and putting the pieces together until I had the dresser completed. After we put the dresser in our room, my wife and I decided that we liked it enough to purchase another one. Putting the second one together took half the time because I had a model to follow.
Christ has already put together a model for us to follow! It should be much easier for us to live the Christian life than it was for Old Testament believers. They never had the example of Christ’s life and His words. Not only that, but through the Holy Spirit, Jesus will actually assist you as you attempt to put together the dresser that is your life. He has already lived the life you are trying to lead, why not ask Him for help? Why not follow His lead?
Eph. 5:1-2
Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
Luke 9:22-27
The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.
23 And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. 24 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. 25 For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself? 26 For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. 27 But I tell you truly, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God.
