saved or follower?

So, I grew up in a world where camp/vacation bible school/church was all about the one big night where you went forward and asked Jesus into your heart and BOOM you're a Christian. It's that one big moment that life changed and now you are a disciple of Jesus....but I was 7. I am not thinking that it didn't count, but I'm wondering if that is what Jesus meant when he said "Follow Me"?

This makes me wonder, is salvation a one shot deal and then we learn to be a disciple, a follower of Christ? Jesus didn't say, "accept me" - he said, "follow me". Maybe salvation and discipleship are interwoven. Could salvation really be more of a journey, a discovery, an answer to the invitation "follow me"? To answer the invitation that really just shows a heart willing to follow. When we answer an invitation, we still have to show up to the party to participate in it. Jesus didn't say, "accept me" - he said, "follow me". We can answer his invitation, but does it stop there?

This raises a thought: Each disciple made a choice to follow Christ, to answer his invitation, but in that moment they actually knew nothing of what he would ask of them - so were they saved in that moment or was it a journey of discovery?

I raise these questions not to discount the faith of a 7 year old that loved Jesus, but to wonder if when we "share a testimony" and talk of that "one big moment" are we missing the point. Is it about that one moment we were 'saved' or the daily living for Christ that is the point. To say I was saved when I was 7 may not actually be accurate. Maybe I should be saying - when I was 7 I began the journey of discovering what it means to follow Christ and I am continually being saved by Christ as I goof up and go off course, it is a journey I am still figuring it out today - and that is called discipleship.

What do you think?

value?

What gives something value? Does it come from where it was made or who made it? Does it come from it's age or the materials used to create it?

As I prepare to talk about our value to a group of homeless people tonight, these questions come to mind. Where does my value come from? Do I create my own value? Is that a good thing? If I didn't have a home, if I didn't have a job, if I didn't have anything - would that affect my view of my value? I'd have to say - yes - even though I know it shouldn't.

My daughter made me a cup. Does it's value come from the clay - of course not. The priceless value of that cup comes from the one who made it.

I know my value is not dependant on my job, my house, my family, or my possessions. My value doesn't come from outside of me - it comes from who made me. It is not my age (thankfully) that brings me value but the one whose hands formed me before I was even aware of him.

Yet, we live in a world that puts prices on everything. Our world's pricetag creates value. A honda or a lexus will both get you across town - but one is seen as more valuable than the other.
A person that lives on the street or a person that lives in a mansion will both live lives here on earth but we give one more value than the other - we fall into the trap of thinking that value depends on the job, home, or people around us when in fact our value comes from the one who made us.

May you see yourself through the eyes of the one who made you...