Text - John 12:26
"If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour"
Why am I following Jesus? Can you boldly answer this question? (Think and sincerely answer)
Jesus called his 12 disciples and they all agreed to follow Him. In this 12, some followed Him because they believed in Christ and wanted to see His kingdom come (Peter - Matthew 16:16). Some followed because of the position they will attain when they will get to heaven (The sons of Zebedee - Mark 10: 35-37). Another followed for his material gain (Judas- John 12:4-6). However, all of them followed Jesus.
I've read of and meditated on the life of American missionary, Jim Elliot. Jim loved the Lord so much, he was sure that he needed to reach the unreached with God's word. Jim against all the rumors he had heard, made his missionary journey with some friends to Ecuador, to make encounter with the natives to preach the word of Christ. For this cause, Jim and four of his friends were killed by some of the natives who did not accept their visit and purpose of visit. Jim is just one of many other Christians, who have lost their lives for the love of God in their hearts, who kept following Jesus come what may.
As a child of God, why do you follow Jesus?
The Isralites who were just saved from their Egyptian oppressors got it all wrong, in their path of following. They felt that following God meant God would always provide for them and that they did not need to worry about any trial, because God loved them so much. This clouded notion of theirs made them doubt God when faced even with the slightest challenges (See the whole book of Exodus in the Bible). The Isralites always found it easy going back to their former beliefs or way of life, because their reason for following God was distorted from the beginning. The Bible says, they only knew the acts of God,they did not know His ways (Psalm 103:7). Stephen knew the way (Jesus), he was so sure of his walk with God (Acts 6-7). He followed Jesus whole heartedly because, he wanted to make it finally to see his master in glory, and he did finally!
A popular saying goes like this: "Where the purpose of a thing is not known, abuse is inevitable".
Dear Friends, the same goes for our walk with God.
If you do not know the reason you are following God, then there's bound to be abuse of it. You can follow Him for the right or wrong reasons.
As we have seen above, some disciples of Jesus, Jim Elliot and Stephen all followed Jesus because they believed in Christ's love and they wanted to live for Him. The Israelites knew God, but they only followed Him for what they will gain.
Which of these sides are you?
God's word says, God loved us so much that He gave His only beloved son for us, that whosoever believes in Him (Jesus) will not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16). This is the way to follow Jesus the right way for the right reason. Jesus dies for you, and He wants you to believe in Him, that is trusting in Him totally that you are willing to follow Him to the very end.
If you have been following Jesus only because of what you will gain, desist from it. Follow Jesus now, because you believe in what He did on the cross for you, and you want to obey His every word by loving Him, and diligently tell others about Him.
Choose this way and choose life. Do not let His sacrifice for you be in vain.
Much love y'all. God bless you🥰🙏.