COMMANDS19 (Follow): Goodbook 08-26-14

One of our challenges for 2014 is to learn and live all 50 commands of Jesus.  Jesus told us that following his commandments is a way to love him and a way for his love and his joy to fill our lives (John 15:9-12).  In his Great Commission, Jesus tells his followers to make disciples of all nations, teaching them to obey everything he commanded us (Matthew 28:19-20).  So each week in this year we are learning and living one command of Jesus.  Here is our command for this week...

Week 19:

“Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people,” (Matthew 4:19).

Application:

Two words are all it takes to change everything in our lives.  Jesus says: “Follow me.” This command is given by Jesus over 20 times in the Gospels.  Jesus said it to the fishermen in their boats.  Jesus said it to Matthew in his tax collecting booth.  Jesus said it to the rich young ruler who wanted to know how to inherit eternal life.  Jesus said it to Philip when Jesus found him.  And later, Jesus made it clear that anyone and everyone who wants to be his disciple is given the same invitation, the same command: “Follow me.”  Jesus said, “Anyone who does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple,” (Luke 14:27).  So if we are to focus on any of Jesus’ commands, this would be the one to focus on.  At the heart of being a Christian, at the essence of being a disciple of Jesus, is to follow him.

I am reading a book by David Platt called “Follow Me.”  I like how he exposes both the cost and the gain of answering this call.  There is a great cost involved in following Jesus.  It can mean letting go of professions, possessions, dreams, ambitions, family, friends, safety, and security – abandoning everything – in order to follow Jesus.  Yet following Jesus is worth the cost!  In Jesus, we find someone worth losing everything for.  Jesus is calling us to let go of everything else so we can truly hold on to him.  Like the first disciples, all who answer the call to follow Jesus encounter a love that surpasses comprehension, a satisfaction that supersedes circumstance, and a purpose that transcends every other possible pursuit in this world.

My life is radically transformed when I follow Jesus – when I follow him into the love and grace and salvation of God, when I follow his teachings, when I follow his model of compassion and mercy and generosity, when I follow his leading and prompting in my life, when I follow the way of Jesus even when it takes me in a different direction than culture or other people might expect me to go, when I join with other followers of Jesus in pursuit of God’s plan for our lives and families and church.  As costly as it can be, I have found time and time again that it is worth the cost – that He is worth the cost.  In Jesus I find true life and feel most alive.  To be honest, I like my life best when following Jesus.

Yet I often find myself losing focus and following other things or people instead of Jesus.  So I challenge us to structure our life around following Jesus.  Here is a question that I challenge us to ask ourselves over and over again this week: How can I follow Jesus? 

As you read your Bible in the morning, ask, “How can I follow Jesus?”  As you worship with your church, ask, “How can I follow Jesus?”  As you meet with your small group, ask, “How can I follow Jesus?”  As you pray and listen, ask, "How can I follow Jesus?" As you face challenging situations and decisions, ask, “How can I follow Jesus?”  As you plan your schedule and make goals, ask, "How can I follow Jesus?"  As you deal with people, ask, "How can I follow Jesus?"  As you see needs, ask, "How can I follow Jesus?"  As you encounter distractions and temptations, ask, “How can I follow Jesus?”

Then, with the help of God and others … follow Jesus!

Share your insights and application ideas...