Episode 465 - Show Notes
- I often think of the 12 disciples of Jesus. Each of them was personally invited by Jesus to follow him. None of them put in an application. None of them were interviewed to see if they would be selected. No, they were asked by Jesus to follow.
- Over the next three years, they would follow closely. Certainly, they would learn from the preaching and teaching of Jesus. But they also learned by watching. They would watch his lifestyle, his prayer life, and his interactions with people. They would learn from his responses, his attitude, and his conversations. By following closely they would see his character up close and personal. How would Jesus act when he was happy, angry, tired, and hungry?
- The knowledge and relationship gained only happened because of their close proximity to Jesus. There were others around Jesus, even crowds of thousands of people, but they did not have the same experience as the disciples because they were not following closely.
- You and I have been invited to follow in the footsteps of Jesus. By his grace, he invites us into a relationship as we trust his death and resurrection for our salvation. While we don’t follow him physically as the original 12 disciples did, we do follow his teaching, his way of living, his character, and His purpose for our lives.
- Can I ask you a personal question? How closely are you following Jesus?
- To truly follow Christ means we become like Jesus. To follow Christ means we do not follow anything or anyone else. To follow Jesus means that we make him the “Lord” of our lives. Jesus becomes the most important thing in our lives.
- Becoming a disciple requires an unwavering commitment to submit to our rabbi’s authority. It meant that every day is full of opportunities to learn new things about God.
- When we follow Jesus we do so with a sense of abandonment. The gospels tell us that the 12 disciples left their old lives behind for a new one. We too are leaving the old life behind. Old values, old sins, old pursuits, and follow a new way of living. God may ask you to abandon old plans and dreams. He’ll call you to leave a self-centered life for a Christ-centered life.
- So, our daily goal…to pursue Jesus, and to do so closely. We follow his teaching, his way of life, and his example. A follower’s desire is to “be like Jesus.”
John 12:26 - “If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.”
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