Photo courtesy of Mike King.

We hope you enjoy this re-post from February 3, 2013. Be blessed! The Today’s Quote From God Team

Then Jesus said to His disciples, If anyone desires to be My disciple, let him deny himself [disregard, lose sight of, and forget himself and his own interests] and take up his cross and follow Me [ [a]cleave steadfastly to Me, conform wholly to My example in living and, if need be, in dying, also]. – Matthew 16:24, Amplified Bible

The difference between a “fan” and a “raving fan” is a matter of degree of dedication. A “fan” of a college football team, for example, may follow that team, root for it, and wish it the best of success. But, the emotional attachment is casual, and the fan follows the team at his own convenience. The “raving fan,” however, is tied completely to the team’s fate. This person will rearrange his schedule in order to view every game. Wins are followed by emotional highs and losses by emotional lows. The raving fan’s wardrobe, desk, and vehicle are accessorized with team memoribilia, and the raving fan follows the team faithfully no matter how well or how poorly it plays. Raving fans, simply put, are devoted.

God has His fans, and He has His raving fans. Very few in American Christendom know the difference, and this is a major reason why American Christendom is so weak. To be a fan of God is to be a child of God. To be a raving fan of God is to be a discilple of God. Being a child of God is relatively easy. All one has to do is recognize himself as a sinner, understand that he cannot earn Heaven through works of his own, turn his back on (repent of) his sins, and trust Jesus Christ alone to save him. God does all of the work, and He adopts us into His family. Easy.

To be a disciple of God’s, however, requires us to work. The work we must engage in is self-denial. As Christ says in Matthew 16:24, “If anyone desires to be My disciple, let him deny himself.” The disciple must disregard, lose sight of, and forget himself and his own interests. Like the football “fan,” the child of God follows Christ to a degree, but when self-interest conflicts with God-interest, self-interest wins. Like the “raving fan,” the disciple follows God devotedly. Whenever self-interest and God-interest conflict, God-interest wins. The child of God follows God at his convenience. The disciple of God follows God at God’s convenience.

So, are you just a fan of God’s, or are you a raving fan?