Following JesusSample

FOLLOW ME

After asking people to repent in Matthew 4:17, Jesus’ next command was that they follow Him (Matthew 4:19). How did the people respond to this command? In Luke 5:11 it says, “So when they had brought their boats to land, they forsook all and followed Him.”

What does it mean to forsake all and to follow Jesus? It means to turn away from the life we had been leading - of pursuing worldly things - and to follow in the footsteps Jesus has planned for us.

While, in the case of the apostles, it meant leaving their profession and joining Jesus’ school of discipleship, for most of us it would not mean that. It would mean continuing to do what we have been doing, but with a different motivation. The forsaking is of the motivations in our life.

For example, if I am teaching in a school, my motivation at work is no longer to be the best teacher in the school, or to be promoted as a head, or any other worldly ambition. Rather, having forsaken these worldly ambitions, I ask, why would Jesus want me to teach in the school? How does my teaching meet the needs of the kingdom of God? I then begin to see the larger picture of what God is doing. Why would God want children to be educated? It is so that they may be useful citizens, who can use their knowledge for the benefit of society? My approach changes from coaching children to pass examinations, to helping them to learn and master subjects, and to use them for the benefit of society.

My life is now not about what I would like to do, but about what Jesus would have me do. Primarily this means living the kind of life Jesus wants me to live in whatever situation I am in. That is, living by the values and purposes Jesus has taught us. In this way, we become a light for Jesus wherever we are.

However, following the teachings of Jesus is not always easy. In John 6:60, the disciples complain, “This is a hard saying and who can understand it?” In John 6:66 it says, “From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more.”

We tend to be selective in what we want to obey and what we want to ignore. But John says that those who reject portions of Jesus’ teachings are no longer with Jesus or following Him. Are there passages from Jesus’ teaching that you are ignoring? If so, you need to deal with it.

By this perspective, we follow Jesus by keeping his teachings and being a shining light wherever we are. Being a Christian is not just about accepting Jesus for salvation, but accepting Jesus for a new purpose and direction in life.

Have you been selective in following Jesus rather than being whole-hearted?