Follow (Imitate Me)
Scripture: Matthew 4:18-22 - And Jesus, walking by the Sea of Galilee, saw two brothers, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. 19 Then He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” 20They immediately left their nets and followed Him. 21 Going on from there, He saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets. He called them, 22 and immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed Him.
We all need to be reminded of our call-- just as Jesus called His first disciples to follow Him. There is a sacrifice involved and a cost and commitment to follow (imitiate) Jesus with all of your heart. Because of the time/culture that we are living in, we need to take our calling serious. Many people say they are Christians, but they are following their fleshly desires and the world system instead of following Jesus’ teaching and principles from the Word. To obey Jesus and follow Him is a growing process. The good news is that He has equipped us with His Word. He has promised to be with us until the very end – no matter what we may encounter in this life. (Matthew 28:18-20) Also, He promised that the Holy Spirit will be indwelled in us to empower us so that we can live for Him and to be a witness for Him. (Acts 1:8) From the scriptures, we see that process in Peter’s life. Peter and others went fishing all night and caught nothing. (Luke 5:1-11) They were so disappointed. We also have experienced being disappointed or being a failure, but we can’t trust how we feel. We must look beyond our circumstances and by faith, like Peter did, make a choice to obey, trust, depend, on the Lord by taking Him at His word. Peter obeyed the Lord, and was blessed/rewarded. As Peter realized his insignificance compared to who Jesus is, he bowed down to Jesus and confessed that he was a sinful man. In that process, Peter saw his sinful ways, but also he saw the miraculous power and authority of Jesus Christ. He realized that Jesus was interested in saving, changing and helping him by providing his daily physical needs. As the process of our discipleship continues, we must be committed to the call of life dedicated to follow Jesus Christ by being a soul winner for His kingdom. They forsook all and followed Him. (Luke 5:11)
Matthew 16:24-25 - Then Jesus said to His disciples, If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. 25 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.
Principles to help us follow/imitate Jesus Christ from Matthew 16:24-25 are:
(1 ) We must deny our sinful desires -- such as the lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. (I John 2:15) Let us forsake those things (external as well as internal things) that hinder us.
(2 ) We must pick up our cross and follow Jesus by identifying with His suffering and persecution as we face challenges of this life. (II Timothy 3:12)
(3 ) As we follow Christ, let us proclaim the power of the cross – which is the only thing that can save a man’s soul and change his life. (I Corinthians 1:18) Let’s say, like Peter did, that we will forsake it all to follow Jesus – anytime, anywhere, and at any cost.
By the way, Peter’s big catch was on the day of Pentecost in Acts 2:5-41 when Peter preached and over 3,000 souls were saved!! The process of winning souls, by the preaching and teach of God’s Word continued by the power of the resurrection of Jesus Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit!
Are you following Christ with all of your heart? Do you have a passion for winning souls for the Kingdom of God? As a true believer in Christ, you are called/chosen to be a “fisher of men”. (Mark 1:16-19)
I have decided to follow Jesus. I have decided to follow Jesus. I have decided to follow Jesus. No turning back. No turning back. Though none go with me, still I will follow. Though none go with me, still I will follow. Though none go with me, still I will follow. No turning back. No turning back. The world behind me, the cross before me. The world behind me, the cross before me. The world behind me, the cross before me. No turning back. No turning back.
Prayer: Heavenly Father: Thank you for calling me and choosing me to be your servant. Help me to let nothing stop me from serving You – in good or bad times – in this growing process of living for You. I desire to follow You with all my heart, because You love me and died on the cross for me. I’m so grateful for Your grace and mercy shown/demonstrated toward me. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
(by Pastor Robert Williams)
We all need to be reminded of our call-- just as Jesus called His first disciples to follow Him. There is a sacrifice involved and a cost and commitment to follow (imitiate) Jesus with all of your heart. Because of the time/culture that we are living in, we need to take our calling serious. Many people say they are Christians, but they are following their fleshly desires and the world system instead of following Jesus’ teaching and principles from the Word. To obey Jesus and follow Him is a growing process. The good news is that He has equipped us with His Word. He has promised to be with us until the very end – no matter what we may encounter in this life. (Matthew 28:18-20) Also, He promised that the Holy Spirit will be indwelled in us to empower us so that we can live for Him and to be a witness for Him. (Acts 1:8) From the scriptures, we see that process in Peter’s life. Peter and others went fishing all night and caught nothing. (Luke 5:1-11) They were so disappointed. We also have experienced being disappointed or being a failure, but we can’t trust how we feel. We must look beyond our circumstances and by faith, like Peter did, make a choice to obey, trust, depend, on the Lord by taking Him at His word. Peter obeyed the Lord, and was blessed/rewarded. As Peter realized his insignificance compared to who Jesus is, he bowed down to Jesus and confessed that he was a sinful man. In that process, Peter saw his sinful ways, but also he saw the miraculous power and authority of Jesus Christ. He realized that Jesus was interested in saving, changing and helping him by providing his daily physical needs. As the process of our discipleship continues, we must be committed to the call of life dedicated to follow Jesus Christ by being a soul winner for His kingdom. They forsook all and followed Him. (Luke 5:11)
Matthew 16:24-25 - Then Jesus said to His disciples, If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. 25 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.
Principles to help us follow/imitate Jesus Christ from Matthew 16:24-25 are:
(1 ) We must deny our sinful desires -- such as the lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. (I John 2:15) Let us forsake those things (external as well as internal things) that hinder us.
(2 ) We must pick up our cross and follow Jesus by identifying with His suffering and persecution as we face challenges of this life. (II Timothy 3:12)
(3 ) As we follow Christ, let us proclaim the power of the cross – which is the only thing that can save a man’s soul and change his life. (I Corinthians 1:18) Let’s say, like Peter did, that we will forsake it all to follow Jesus – anytime, anywhere, and at any cost.
By the way, Peter’s big catch was on the day of Pentecost in Acts 2:5-41 when Peter preached and over 3,000 souls were saved!! The process of winning souls, by the preaching and teach of God’s Word continued by the power of the resurrection of Jesus Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit!
Are you following Christ with all of your heart? Do you have a passion for winning souls for the Kingdom of God? As a true believer in Christ, you are called/chosen to be a “fisher of men”. (Mark 1:16-19)
I have decided to follow Jesus. I have decided to follow Jesus. I have decided to follow Jesus. No turning back. No turning back. Though none go with me, still I will follow. Though none go with me, still I will follow. Though none go with me, still I will follow. No turning back. No turning back. The world behind me, the cross before me. The world behind me, the cross before me. The world behind me, the cross before me. No turning back. No turning back.
Prayer: Heavenly Father: Thank you for calling me and choosing me to be your servant. Help me to let nothing stop me from serving You – in good or bad times – in this growing process of living for You. I desire to follow You with all my heart, because You love me and died on the cross for me. I’m so grateful for Your grace and mercy shown/demonstrated toward me. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
(by Pastor Robert Williams)
1 Comment
Praise God that I am able to follow Jesus! May I walk in His footprints in my sand of life. With knowledge/wisdom from God's Word and from the Holy Spirit---my calling, obedience, sacrifice, and service are possible because of the finished work in which He has already troded at first. Dear Lord, please help me daily to faithfully imitate Christ Jesus more and more. Amen.