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19 <\/sup><\/em> “Come, follow me<\/u><\/strong>,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” – Matthew 4:19 (NIV) We ALL \u201cfollow\u201d various people and ideas! On social media, it is popular to \u201cfollow\u201d someone or some page because you like their ideas on faith, politics, or whatever. We listen to our favorite news stations and media podcasts, etc., and we choose those voices that fit our view of the world and current culture. Some of these voices are good and reasonable and uplifting, while others stir fear, rage, and outright hatred toward the other side, or tribe. Some have good motives for all they say, while others just want to manipulate us and use us to gain power, money, and control. These voices have been going on since the Fall in the Garden of Eden in Genesis! How do we, as Christians, know WHO to follow?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n 1) Understand that as good or evil these voices may be, NONE of them are God!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n We ALL are broken, sinful people, living in a world that is reeling from the effects of that sin. Thus, every voice we hear from humanity, outside of the Bible and the leading of the Holy Spirit, originates from that broken world under the influence of sin and ruled presently by Satan! James (Jesus\u2019 brother) warned us about listening and loving the voices of the world more than God<\/em>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n 4 <\/sup><\/em> You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God<\/strong>? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. 5 <\/sup> Or do you think Scripture says without reason that the spirit he caused to live in us envies intensely? 6 <\/sup> But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” 7 <\/sup> Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. – James 4:4-7 (NIV) Does that sound a little harsh to you? Why would James say that to be friends and \u201cfollow\u201d the human ideas of the world make you an enemy of God?<\/p>\n\n\n\n BECAUSE\u2026<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n 2) Jesus didn\u2019t come to make us nicer people that just \u201cget along\u201d better and treat each other more nicely. He came to REDEEM AND RESTORE the earth, and all humans willing to \u201cfollow him\u201d into his new Kingdom which will last forever!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Yes, to follow Jesus begins<\/u><\/em><\/strong>by declaring that \u201cJesus is Lord\u201d and believing in our hearts that God raised him from the dead! (Romans10:9) Sadly, too many Christians stop with that thought and think they\u2019ve got a \u201cticket to Heaven\u201d and just go on living the same old way and listening to the same voices!<\/p>\n\n\n\n But, trusting in Jesus not only saves us FROM<\/u><\/em> sin, but it saves us FOR<\/u><\/em> something much better and amazing beyond belief! We are saved to become brand new people, or new creations, that are empowered by his Spirit to slowly become more and more like him, living as new Kingdom men and women! We are to \u201clet go\u201d of the world\u2019s voices and ways, and put on a new life in Jesus by following him down the road to a new Kingdom existence!<\/p>\n\n\n\n 3) Jesus tells us we are all on one of two roads: one that leads to destruction and death, and one that leads to eternal life and his Kingdom!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n 13 <\/sup><\/em> “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 <\/sup> But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. – Matthew 7:13-14 (NIV) The ONLY way to get on the right road is to follow Jesus! \u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n 6 <\/sup><\/em>Jesus answered, “I am the way<\/u><\/strong> and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. – <\/strong>John 14:6 (NIV)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n 4) How do we leave the path that leads to destruction and spiritual death, and turn to the Way of Jesus that leads to life and healing?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The answer is something most people, even Christians, have little understanding of: Spiritual Formation!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Spiritual formation<\/strong> is not just a Christian thing: it\u2019s a HUMAN thing!<\/p>\n\n\n\n We are ALL spiritual beings (whether you believe that or not), and you are being formed into a certain kind of human from the day you were born until the day you die. So the question you and I need to think about each day is,<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWHO or WHAT am I being formed into each moment of each day?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Your spiritual formation will depend completely<\/u><\/em> on who you listen to, who you trust, and who you most want to be like!<\/strong> If we continue to spend most of our time listening to sinful human voices tell us how to think and act, we will remain on the path that leads to death and destruction. But Jesus came to offer us another path, a whole new life and mindset that leads to true life in his new Kingdom that will last forever. To make that life-altering, course-altering change, we need to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n FOLLOW JESUS, AND HIM ALONE!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n When Jesus called people to \u201cfollow him\u201d, it was in the context of being a Jewish Rabbi. Rabbis were the ultimate teachers in that culture, and they would invite the very best students to \u201cfollow them\u201d. That meant to walk with them and live with them, not only learning their specific teachings, but learn their very lifestyle and attitudes and demeanor, and as \u201cdisciples\u201d, or apprentices, they were to become like the Rabbi and do the same things he did. Then they would \u201cgraduate\u201d and go out and train new disciples under them to carry on the same teachings and lifestyle, and repeat that process over and over\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n That\u2019s what Jesus is calling US to do when he says to \u201cfollow him\u201d, and then to \u201cmake disciples\u201d!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Amazingly, most of us are not the \u201cbrightest and best\u201d students, but Jesus calls us anyway, because he will empower us through his Spirit, (the Holy Spirit), to learn and grow way beyond our own abilities to become more like him!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Today, and for the rest of our lives, Jesus says we only have two choices:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n 1) Listen to the world and stay on the path to death and destruction, or<\/p>\n\n\n\n 2) Trust and follow him down a new path, a new way that leads to becoming a new person who will grow to be more and more like him and live forever in his Kingdom!<\/p>\n\n\n\n I plan to write more this year on HOW following Jesus looks and how we do it!<\/u><\/strong> ALL of the New Testament is about Jesus, and how he calls us to put off our old selves and way of life and take on a new life and identity in him. In other words, to spend time with him, seek to be more and more like him, and do what he does. For now, I encourage you to :<\/p>\n\n\n\n 1) Most importantly, read your Bible regularly and prayerfully ask God to show you through scripture how he is calling you to think, act, and have the perspective of Jesus on everything and everyone that affects your specific life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 2) Intentionally cut way back on listening to the deafening voices of this world, trying to manipulate and pull you to one \u201cteam\u201d or another. Ask for discernment through the Holy Spirit to see God\u2019s perspective on every issue, seeing every issue and person from Jesus\u2019 desire to bring spiritual redemption, healing, and wholeness to the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 3) Find and memorize or print out some verses that keep you hopeful and on the path of wanting to become more like Jesus!<\/p>\n\n\n\n I\u2019ll leave you with two that I always find encouraging and help me keep a long-term, \u201cKingdom\u201d perspective:<\/p>\n\n\n\n 33 <\/sup><\/em> But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34<\/sup>Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. -Matthew 6:33-34 (NIV) 29 <\/sup><\/em> Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 <\/sup> For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” – Matthew 11:28-30 (NIV) 19 “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” – Matthew 4:19 (NIV)24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 25 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever … Continue reading WHO ARE YOU GOING TO FOLLOW IN 2026, AND BEYOND?<\/span>
24 <\/sup> Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me<\/u><\/strong>. 25 <\/sup> For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. – Matthew 16:24-25 (NIV)
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