Tag Archives: Following Jesus

Why Do You Follow?

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One of the things we see in scripture is that Jesus always has folks following Him. We see different levels of folks that follow.

Some are very, very close to Him, like and inner circle – Peter, James, and John. And there are the 12 Disciples that go with Him everywhere, they are His closest follower and friends. Then, there is the next level, what scripture calls “the crowd.”

Some of the crowd follow because they value what Jesus says. Others follow because following Jesus is cool. Others follow for what they can get out of it – food, or healing, or attention.

Listen to what Jesus says in John 6:26-27  about this today:

Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. Do not labor for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal.”

He said you follow because of signs, because of food. Don’t focus on getting that from me.

Focus on this from me. Eternal life.

Focus on what matters. Follow me for what matters.

Today, why do you follow? Why do you follow Jesus?

Is it because it’s what’s expected?

Is it because it’s what your family does?

Is it to fit in?

Is it for attention?

Is because you believe that if you will, you will get what you want?

Or, is it because you know that in Jesus Christ, you find life. Life is found only in Jesus. No where else.

That’s why we should follow.

Today, Jesus asked His followers, do you follow me for what you can get out of it? Or do you follow me because you have found that life is found in me, and nowhere else alone.

May we follow the giver of life. Today, may we follow Jesus with all that we are!

Don’t forget, you can click here to download Asbury’s mobile app and read these devotionals, as well as listen to my sermons on your smart phones.

When Your Prayer Life is Hard

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Jesus models for us, in our lives, what life should be like. He shows to us the model of Christian life and faithfulness.

Will we ever live as He lived? No likely. But, He shows us what we should aspire to. He shows us what we should chase after.

We should all, in our lives, try to be like Jesus.

And we get that in terms of loving, or serving, or forgiving. We understand that.

Today’s passage, through, it gives us insight to what we should try to be like, in terms of our prayer life.

Look at what happened into in Mark 14:35-56:

And going a little farther, he fell on the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. And he said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Remove this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.”

Jesus prays that this cup pass from Him. Yes, He chose the cross. He knew it was what He must do. He knew it was God’s plan for redemption for humanity. He knew it was what was to come.

And we see, that even while He chose it, He was not looking forward it. He was not excited about it. He really knew how tough it would be.

So, He asked His father, if possible, let it pass. But, He said, not it be His will, but God the Father’s will.

When your prayer life is hard, He understands. When you aren’t sure what to pray, He understands. When your prayer life is a struggle, He understands.

When we struggle with life, when we struggle with challenges, when we deal with all types of problems, He understands. He’s been there. He’s been in the place where He asked God to take the cup from Him.

But, how did His prayer end? Not what He will, but what God willed.

When it’s hard, he understands

Jesus went through the challenge and pain of the cross. He went through the pain of betrayal and hut. He went through all of this. And He emerged victorious.

So will you. Be faithful. Pray. Trust. Hope. Lean upon Him. Know He’s been where you are.

Trust in God’s will. He will take care of you. Even when your life pray life is hard. He will not leave or forsake you. Trust in Him. Even when you don’t know what to pray or how to pray. Trust. His grace is sufficient.

And through Him, just as He did, we will triumph.

Don’t forget, you can click here to download Asbury’s mobile app and read these devotionals, as well as listen to my sermons on your smart phones.

Will You Follow?

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Today is the Tuesday of Holy Week, this week between Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday. In this week Jesus remains in Jerusalem teaching the people about what is to come.  He teaches them about what is coming later this week; about His suffering, His death, and even His resurrection.

And these teachings are not always easy to hear.

When someone is drawing close to the end of their life, I’ve heard it said that they talk and speak with a clarity of purpose. I don’t know if that’s true in the same way for Jesus – His words always rang true.  His teaching always had authority.  He was always clear.  He always spoke the truth.

But, there is something about what He tells this crowd on this Tuesday in light what He knows will be happening to Him on Thursday and Friday. Listen to these words:

Those who love their life in this world will lose it. Those who care nothing for their life in this world will keep it for eternity. Anyone who wants to be my disciple must follow me, because my servants must be where I am. And the Father will honor anyone who serves me.

Anyone who wants to be my disciple must follow me.

And that sounds nice, doesn’t it?  That sounds nice and sweet. But here’s the problem.  Jesus doesn’t always lead us into easy places.

Jesus doesn’t always lead us to the places that we’d go on our own.

I mean, look at where He willing went this week – the cross. But He went, knowing that through the cross, our salvation and victory over sin, death, and the grave would be achieved.

And honestly, that victory makes it possible to follow Him.  He will call you into places you don’t want to go.  He will call you to people who you don’t like.  He will take you to places you don’t want to go.

The question is this.  Will you follow?

You can follow for two reasons.  First, if He calls you somewhere or to something you don’t like/want, know that in the end, it’s for your good. The tears you cry are not in vain. The hurts you feel are not without a purpose.  The tough times serve a purpose. They will draw you close to Him.

Sometimes it take a tough time to realize Jesus is all we need.

Second, when He calls you to those places, know that through the cross and the empty grave, you’ve already got the victory.  Sin, death, and the grave have been defeated.  You can trust that.  You can live that.

Jesus calls us to follow Him.  Into places we might not want to go.  Know though, where He calls us to, He will go with us.  He will not leave or forsake us. Today, or ever.

Today, will you follow?