Who's following Who?

What you see is what you get, Is a phrase we often say to validate what we feel to be true about ourselves but is that true? Absolutely not! Most of the time what we see is a product of what we heard, followed, then created about ourselves. There are many different aspects of life that create how we view life. Society, media, economic status, and even what or who has the greatest influence on us.

Lets talk (its been a minute) about something that’s so common and could be so detrimental (if we choose wrong) at the same; Being a Follower!

Now let's start at the beginning....

I know for a fact that we are created in the image of God and in his likeness; but what does that mean? An image, according to Webster, is a reproduction or imitation of the form of a person or thing. That’s simple but we make it so hard. If we are made in the Image of God, we ae supposed to be direct replicates of Him. Now it’s obvious that God is invisible, however, when he made us; he made us with the direct attributes that he carries.

Pause,

Let's ask ourselves: Do I have God’s attributes? Do I walk in love, am I gracious to others, do I use wisdom, am I giving; just to name a few! We will talk about that in future post to come!

Now let’s talk about likeness; almost the same as Image but different. Likeness means to resemble a person, place, or thing. That’s a basic definition but when you refer to Us being made in God’s likeness we explore the details of how (action) we are to resemble him. The strides or actions we take every day should say, I’M MADE IN THE IMAGE OF GOD ANNNNNNND HIS LIKENESS!

It’s funny too me how we can look like someone on the outside but never truly step up and fulfill the responsibility required to truly resemble that person. Or how we never have internal attributes of the person we are following.

Which brings me to my point!

Following God should prick us to be responsible for our actions and things we create, as well as, how we physical appear to GOD first then others around us! We never ask the Lord, what is his original intent for many reason. One, it’s too much of a risk so we think, but too me we don't because it would require us to LISTEN, FOLLOW, and APPLY what he says.

John 10:4-5 says, when he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.”

Now one thing I know for a fact is that if you follow anything, you must KNOW what you are following to some degree. Whether it be the credibility of a produce, what kind of character traits the person, company, product has, or what benefits you have for following. I was soooo shocked to read that the sheep will run away from the stranger because they don’t know him.

WOW. COM

How many of us (sheep) have ran to the stranger because we don’t know the Shepard? Ouch, let's take a deep breathe! Then later in scripture it tells us that, we hear God’s voice, and HE knows us and WE follow him. God knows who belongs to him based on who we follow! But I’m learning that following is directly connected to LISTENING.

It so vital, more so now than ever, that we do a soundcheck on or ear and guard what we intake through them daily. It may be the daily gossip that clogs your hearing or the strong influence of other people that cause unnecessary feedback. Nevertheless, whatever it is; search yourself and make sure your airway is clear for Father to speak clearly to you.

Because you won’t know anything if you don’t follow his voice!