...in pursuit of Him...

My dad always talks about God's will. He's always asking me if I am sure about decisions that I'm making - Am I sure that this job is God's will? Am I sure that Washington, DC is God's will? Am I sure that this car is God's will? But I'm really not sure that I know what that means. Does it mean that I have no choices about anything - everything is predetermined and if I screw up one thing, my whole life is screwed?

I don't think so. Over the past few years, I've wrestled with this question - absolutely paralyzed in fear of making a mistake. And I think I've finally come to a conclusion.

The only thing that matters is obedience. A daily walk with Christ that is real, authentic, growing.

My deepest desire is to be like Christ. I've thrown out the phrase, "Is this His will?" from my vocabulary, and replaced it with, "Am I daily walking in faith?"

And so, I've decided that my spiritual journey for the next few months is going to be focused on knowing Christ. Following Him. Obeying Him. I believe that this starts and ends with what He has revealed about Himself in the scriptures. And I'm finding out more than I ever have before.

I recently went through the book of Matthew (and am working on the other gospels) and just made a list of the commands that Christ gives us in His own words. It's amazing what He says...and what He doesn't.

Here's my list from Matthew. Every time I read through it, it just encourages my heart. And really challenges me.

“Do not put the Lord your God to the test.” 3:7
“Worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only.” 3:10
“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.” 3:17
“Come, follow Me.” 3:19
“Let your light shine before men.” 5:16
“Go and be reconciled to your brother.” 5:23
“Settle matters quickly with your adversary.” 5:25
“Do not swear at all.” 5:34
“Do not resist an evil person.” 5:39
“Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.” 5:42
“Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” 5:44
“Be perfect, as your Heavenly Father is perfect.” 5:48
“Be careful not to do your ‘acts of righteousness’ before men.” 6:1
“When you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, Who is unseen.” 6:6
“When you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting.” 6:16
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth.” 6:19
“Store up for yourselves treasures in heaven.” 6:20
“Do not worry about your life.” 6:25
“Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness.” 6:33
“Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.” 6:34
“Do not judge.” 7:1
“Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs.” 7:6
“Ask, and it will be given to you. Seek, and you will find. Knock, and the door will be opened unto you.” 7:7
“In everything, do to others what you would have them do to you.” 7:12
“Enter through the narrow gate.” 7:13
“Watch out for false prophets.” 7:15
“Ask the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest field.” 9:38
“Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul.” 10:28
“Come to Me, you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” 11:28
“Honor your father and mother.” 15:4
“If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” 16:24
“If you have faith as small as a mustard seed...nothing will be impossible for you.” 17:20-21
“Whoever humbles himself like this child will be greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” 18:4
“Whoever welcomes a little child like this in My name welcomes Me.” 18:5
“See that you do not look down on one of these little ones.” 18:10
“If a brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you.” 18:15
“Forgive your brother from your heart.” 18:35
“If you want to enter life, obey the commandments.” 19:17
“Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and mother, and love your neighbor as yourself.” 19:18-19
“Sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow Me.” 19:21
“If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.” 21:22
“Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.” 22:21
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” 22:37
“Love your neighbor as yourself.” 22:39
“Do not call anyone on earth, “father,” for you have one Father, and He is in heaven.” 23:9
“Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.” 23:12
“Watch out that no one deceives you.” 24:4
“Keep watch, because you do not know on what day the Lord will come.” 24:42
“Whatever you did for one of the least of these, you did for Me.” 25:40
“Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” 28:19-20