Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. It’s cold and windy this morning and although it won’t be warming up by much today, it’s destined to be a beauty. The deer are plentiful around the farm all year long and I never grow tired of watching them. Sometimes they seem to be oblivious to everything around them because they’re too fat and happy to worry about danger. Sometimes they’re on high alert and any little sound sends them running. Sometimes they take a nap in the fields and sometimes the little ones play. I can’t tell most of them apart from the other, but sometimes the behavior of one stands out from the others and I wonder what makes them “different”. I watched this lone deer walk away from her comfort zone and leave the herd behind like I’ve observed her so many times before but THIS time, God used this little deer to drive home a Message about the Journey of Faith. It’s only when we are willing to walk away from our comfort zone – when we’re willing to leave the rest of the herd behind if necessary – it’s only when we stop weighing the dangers and we move forward in His Name that we can be a Usable Vessel for the King of all kings. Isn’t that the way you look at your Journey of Faith too?

It can be so easy for most people to follow the herd in Life but we miss out on the Unique Opportunity to Serve the King when we do. Jesus said, “If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple”. Jesus didn’t mean “hate” the way we think of “hate” because much gets lost in the translation. What Jesus was saying is that if your herd is more important to you than He is, then you can’t be His disciple. I get it. The closer I’ve drawn to Jesus and the more Committed I am to doing HIS work (instead of my own), the fewer people there are in my life. I get it. The more I proclaim “the Mighty Name of Jesus” the more uncomfortable countless people have become and over time, fewer and fewer are still in the field with me. I walk away just like the lone deer in this photo so focused on Jesus Christ that I don’t even notice that I’m headed in One Direction while all the others remain in the field. Sadly, when it comes down to it, most professed Christians aren’t willing to put Jesus Christ first – above their siblings, or children, or grandchildren, or spouse or even themselves and their selfish ambition. Unfortunately for them, Jesus doesn’t accept the leftovers in the Journey of Faith…He insists on being the Main Attraction.

Sometimes it bothers me to watch my world get smaller and smaller but Jesus already warned me that would happen. He said, “And you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved” and I’m committed to enduring to the end even IF I am hated by the world. He said “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword” so I’m not surprised to see division in friendships and family as some draw nearer to Him while the others are content to graze in the field too fat and happy to worry about the danger of not Following Jesus. After I do my Part to encourage the other “deer” to Follow along with me when they refuse, I walk away with Jesus and I don’t look back. Of course, it makes me sad and YES there is an empty place in my Heart for them when I do but mostly I’m sad about their Future without Jesus. He’s my Best Friend. He’s my King. He’s my Redeemer. He brings me more Joy than anyone here on earth ever could and my Joy will last Forever. He is all things – He is above all things. He died for me and I’m willing to Live for Him because of it. If you see me alone in the field like my furry friend don’t feel sorry for me. My desire for popularity died a long time ago and now, there isn’t a person, place, or thing I wouldn’t walk away from for the sake of my Relationship with Jesus Christ.

How about you?