Mark 4:35-41, Hebrews 12:1, 1 Samuel 14:7

Clive Urquhart encourages faith to follow God and not people

Clive Urquhart

'That day when evening came, Jesus said to His disciples, "Let us go over to the other side." Leaving the crowd behind, they took Him along, just as He was, in the boat. There were also other boats with Him. A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke Him and said to Him, "Teacher, don't You care if we drown?" He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, "Quiet! Be still!" Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. He said to His disciples, "Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?" They were terrified and asked each other, "Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey Him!"' Mark 4:35-41

It was time for Jesus and the disciples to move on, "Let's go to the other side." He made this statement of intent; He knew where He wanted to go; He knew He needed to be obedient to what His Father wanted Him to do; He knew He needed to leave the crowd behind in order to move forward into whatever was going to happen next.

On the way, opposition from the storm arose and fear from the voices surrounding Him tried to stand in the way of Him reaching His destination. But Jesus was not deterred. He had set Himself to reach the other side no matter what.

To begin the journey He first had to make some decisions of what He was going to leave behind so that He could step into what the Father had next for Him.

As we move forward in our walk with God we are faced with choices that will either help or hinder what God is doing in us and through our lives. Moving forward always means change. Let's have a look at a few things we need to make sure we leave behind so that, like Jesus, we move forward with God in obedience:

Leave behind - The comfort and security of the known. New things always feel and look different. Faith will always take you into the unknown - it's a life of adventure. Embrace what God says, not filter it through past experiences or fear of the unknown.

Leave behind - The voice of popularity. Be a God chaser not a people pleaser. Don't be led by the voice or the trend of the crowd. Pursue who God has called you to be and what He is leading you to do.

Leave behind - The applause of the people. Live for the affirmation of heaven not the accolades of men. "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us." Hebrews 12:1

Leave the crowd to make their own choice whether to follow. Be one who juts out; one that strides out in God; be an armour bearer that is a great example for others to follow and keep up with! '"Do all that you have in mind," his armour-bearer said. "Go ahead; I am with you heart and soul."' 1 Samuel 14:7 Let us have this heart and attitude of an armour bearer with God.

When we leave the pull and temptations of the crowd behind we won't look back when pressure or challenge come our way. Like Jesus, you can be in the middle of a storm, yet at total peace - God's in control! If you know where you're heading you don't get distracted by the storms and voices on the way. Instead, these possible distractions become opportunities to see God's life and power at work.

Take a few minutes to thank Jesus that He is with you in the 'boat' of your life and that because of who He is your trust in Him is greater than any fear or opposition you may face. Pray through the four 'leave behinds' and choose to live free from the pressure and voice of the crowd.

Have an awesome day!