Are we guilty by association?
If someone accused us of being followers of Jesus, would
there be any evidence in our associations to convict us? Would we be “guilty by association?”
As followers of Jesus, we can live like Jesus did, and that
means associating with the same kind of people that Jesus associated with.
Recently, we watched a “Verge Network” video teaching by
Hugh Halter, pastor of “Missio” Christian fellowship, and advocate of incarnational
ministry and missional leadership. In this teaching, he offers this
grace-filled challenge: Are we guilty by association? Are we
guilty of associating well with the Father,
the Son and the Holy Spirit? Are we guilty of associating with friends that are truly on mission with us?
And are we guilty by associating with
those that we normally just have never even been on our radar? And I don't say this as a condemnation. Read the
scripture and just listen to this. John 5:3 says, "This is how we love God: We obey His
commands. But His commands are not
burdensome."
In view of Halter’s message, here are three missional and
practical ways we walk as followers of Jesus – three ways we can be “guilty by
association.”
Associate
with the Father
Are we learning to listen for the Father’s voice, and
respond to his leading in our daily lives?
Jesus said, “…the
Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father
doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise.”
(John 5.19)
If this is how Jesus lived, how much more will this apply to
us!
We can live an adventurous and spiritually exciting life as
we learn to live like Jesus, and do what we see the Father doing!
Associate
with the disciples
Are we personally investing in relationships with others on
mission with Jesus?
