Follow Me

By: Len Stubbs

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

FOLLOW ME

At the beginning of His ministry Jesus called the first disciples. After fervently praying with the Father over this selection process, Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee. As he knew he would, he came upon two brothers, Simon (later called Peter) and Andrew. They were throwing their nets into the lake, for they were fishermen by trade. "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make a new kind of fisherman out of you. I will make you fishers of men; I will show you how to catch men and women instead of perch and bass. At once, immediately without question or discussion their decision was to obediently leave both their nets and business to followed him.

Going on from there, a short distance down the beach Jesus came upon another pair of brothers, James and John, Zebedee's sons. These two were sitting in a boat with their father, Zebedee, mending their fishnets. Jesus called out to them making the same offer, which He earlier had made to Peter and Andrew, and they were just as quick to follow, abandoning boat and father to followed him.

They didn't ask questions or consider the options they simply dropped their nets and obediently followed.

Do you think that it is revealing that Jesus started out His ministry, following spending time with the Father in prayer, asking His disciples to Follow Me? Do you think that it is revealing those He selected to Follow Him obediently aligned their life to His will and Followed Him?

Let me fast forward to the Last Supper it was just before the Passover Feast, Jesus knew that the time had come to leave this world to return home to the Father. Having loved his disciples, he now showed them the full extent of his love. He continued to love and equip them right to the end.

It was suppertime, the evening meal was being served, and the devil now had Judas, son of Simon the Iscariot, firmly in his grip, and had already prompted him to betray Jesus.

Jesus knew that the Father had put him in complete charge of everything and all things under his power. He was well aware that He had come from God and was returning to God. To further equip His chosen associates, he got up from the supper table and His meal, took off his outer clothing, setting aside his robe, and wrapped a towel around his waist. He then poured water into a basin and began to wash the feet of the disciples, drying them with his apron. When he got to Simon Peter, Peter said, "Master, you wash my feet?"
Jesus answered, "You don't understand now what I'm doing, but it will be clear enough to you later."

Let me stop here and clarify that at the time of Jesus no one aspired to be a slave. Trust me when I say that no one wanted to be the slave that washed feet. For this was a role assigned to the lowest of lowly slaves. In the slave world slaves looked down on the foot washing slave as less than worthy.

As a point of history back in the day foot washing was traditionally observed before feasts and banquets. In the dry dusty Middle East, feet that were sandaled quickly got rough looking. The guests having washed, cleaned and gotten them all gussied up for the gathering would only need their feet washed to be presentable to their hosts.

The disciples were no different they had properly prepared themselves for the evenings festivities. However there was no servant available for foot washing. Just a coincidence I guess.
The disciples being at a supper wanted to be served not serve and they most certainly were not willing to volunteer as the replacement foot-washing slave.

What do you think their reaction was when Jesus the Master chose to become the lowest of lowly slaves, a foot washer?

After he had finished washing their feet, he took his robe, put it back on, and went back to his place at the table.

Then he said, "Do you understand what I have done to you? You address me as 'Teacher' and 'Master,' and rightly so. That is what I am. So if I, the Master and Teacher, washed your feet, you must now wash each other's feet. I've laid down a pattern for you. What I've done, you do. I'm only pointing out the obvious. A servant is not ranked above his master; an employee doesn't give orders to the employer. If you understand what I'm telling you, act like it—and live a blessed life.

In other words Jesus told His disciples to follow me, follow my example of humble service. Cause the Father joy by surrender, obedience, service and love for our neighbor. Jesus makes no bones about it…. follow me and you will be blessed if you live the life that I have equipped you to live.

Here is what the Lord has to say about Follow Me in His word.

(1) In John 12:24-26 - "I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me." 

(2) In Philippians 2:5-8 - "Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death- even death on a cross!"
(3) In Matthew 6:33 - " But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”

(4) In John 15:4-5 - “Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing."

(5) In Matthew 4:19 - "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men.”

(6) In John 14:2-3 - “ In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. 3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.”
(7) In John 21 15-18 - " I When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these? "Yes, Lord," he said, "You know that I love you." Jesus said, "Feed my lambs. Again Jesus said, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me?" He answered, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you." Jesus said, "Take care of my sheep. "The third time he said to him, "Simon son of John, do you love me?" Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, "Do you love me?" He said, "Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you. "Jesus said, "Feed my sheep. I tell you the truth, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go."
(8) In Matthew 22: 37-38 - “ Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment.”

(9) In James 1:27 - “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. “

(10) In Philippians 3:13-14 - “Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”

(11) In Romans 12:12 –“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.”
(12) In John 13:12-17 –“When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. "Do you understand what I have done for you?" he asked them. "You call me 'Teacher' and 'Lord,' and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.”
(13) In Luke 5:27-28 –“After this, Jesus went out and saw a tax collector by the name of Levi sitting at his tax booth. "Follow me," Jesus said to him, and Levi got up, left everything and followed him.”
(14) In Luke 9:23 - "Then he said to them all: 'If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.'"

So in the end, saying yes without hesitation to the Jesus’ call to follow me requires the complete elimination of any and all excuses in our life. It requires a resolve on our part to be all that the Father has called us to be. To place the needs of others top of mind, front and center, It requires that we surrender and serve, It requires that we get focused with a singleness of purpose to align our will with His.

With this accomplished we can position our life to take advantage of His promises.

Here are Eight (8) tips to Finding Balance In Life:

1. PUT GOD FIRST- Christ must be at the center of everything. The Bible teaches us that our one and only priority is to keep Him, His Kingdom, and His righteousness first in everything. His will and our service to Him is our priority.

2. Surrender- His will be done!

3. Serve- Service is our calling;

4. Take Responsibility - You control your choices and are responsible for everything that happens and everything that you commit to.

5. Limit Multi- tasking- Performing several tasks less efficiently only serves to create anxiety, stress, and a sense of being out of control.

6. Turn Off and Tune Out – It is simply not possible or practical to believe that you can be “on” all 24/7/365. As the old saying reminds us if you attempt to burn the candle from both ends you will either get burned or if successful run out of light twice as fast.

7. Eliminate the Clutter- Don’t allow your life or your day to be or get too full.

8. Plan- Set clear priorities for each area of your life. Remember to always make the decision to choose the activities that will assure you the greatest health, happiness and financial success in the long term.

Six (6) Questions to answer Jesus’ call to Follow Me:

1. In the priorities of our life, where does God stand? Does He come before or after job, career, family, habits, or recreation?

2. Do I look out for myself, or am I concerned for the needs of others?

3. Do I cars for the obligations and responsibilities that are mine as husband, father, friend, employee, employer, brother, sister, neighbor? Am I loyal and morally productive?

4 Do I seek Gods will? Do I seek the things of God? Am I righteous and spiritual?

5. Am I obedient to His will and promptings?

6. Do seek to faithfully follow His way, word, walk, and life?

Consider these Five (5) Pitfalls to Following Jesus.

Five (5) Pitfalls to Follow Me to avoid:

1) Winning at all cost – Your actions will tell the story as to whether or not things of this world or serving God was most important to you.

2) Political correctness- You know both Gods call to follow me and His promise to each of us. Yet the marketplace of ideas hasn’t taken the time to reflect on the cost of disobedience.

3) Victimization, the 100-mile rule – Life’s hectic and you are not getting the attention you desire no one will ever know…accept you!

4) Lifestyles, Keeping up with the Jones – You can’t afford to both help a family in need and pop for drinks after work with the boss again this week. What do you decide to spend Gods treasure on?

5) Living by Default – Are you humble or do you flaunt to impress. What you decide will speak volumes about where the treasure of your heart is.

Following His knowingly, willingly, and loving giving His blood at Calvary for us and His resurrection Jesus appeared again to His disciples at the Sea of Tiberias (Sea of Galilee). Let me set up the story for you.

Simon Peter, Thomas (nicknamed "Twin"), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the brothers James and John, and a couple of other disciples were together. Simon Peter, remember him from the beginning of Jesus’ ministry announced, "I'm going fishing." Essentially saying Jesus has been crucified, I am lost therefore I am heading back to what I know best. I am going back to the fishing business. The Family business. The rest of them agreed, "We're going with you.

Think about it these were disciples who had walked with the Father for three years. Had watched Him perform miracle after miracle. Had listened to his words. Had been called not His servants but His friends. Lost, confused, leaderless, rudderless they could think of nothing to do except escape back to the future. Back to what they where comfortable with, what was safe.
They went out and got in the boat. They caught nothing that night. When the sun came up, Jesus was standing on the beach, but they didn't recognize him. Jesus spoke to them: "Good morning! Did you catch anything for breakfast?" They answered, "No." He said, "Throw the net off the right side of the boat and see what happens. They did what he said. All of a sudden there were so many fish in it, they weren't strong enough to pull it in. When Peter realized that it was the Master, he threw on some clothes and dove into the sea rushing off to greet Jesus.

After breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?" "Yes, Master, you know I love you." Jesus said, "Feed my lambs."

He then asked a second time, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?"
"Yes, Master, you know I love you." Jesus said, "Shepherd my sheep." Then he said it a third time: "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" Peter was upset that he asked for the third time, "Do you love me?" so he answered, "Master, you know everything there is to know. You've got to know that I love you."

Jesus said, "Feed my sheep. I'm telling you the very truth now:

When you were young you dressed yourself and went wherever you wished, but when you get old you'll have to stretch out your hands while someone else dresses you and takes you where you don't want to go." He said this to hint at the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. And then he commanded, "Follow me."

As a final thought on this subject, do you believe that it was an accident, a mistake, a coincidence, or just luck that Jesus started and ended His walk and His ministry instructing us to Follow? Do you think that Jesus was confused when He instructed us to Feed His lambs, take care of His sheep, and to feed His sheep. In case you’re confused His lambs and sheep are His people. He instructed us to take care, serve, and love His people.

Following Jesus’ example I want to end up where I started. In the beginning I suggested that this most important decision that you will ever make in your entire life. Not just the most important decision for you personally but truly the most important decision that you will ever make in the lives of those you love. Take some time, consider the facts, and make a decision that will truly make a difference in both your live and in the lives of those who cross your path.

PRACTICE: To practice Jesus’ call to follow pick three people you love and for one day each truly serve their needs. Then volunteer one day a week to help the disadvantaged. In your success journal write down how you made others feel and how that made you feel.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father all honor, praise and glory to you. Thank you for the many blessings that you have chosen to provide in my life. Father thank you for the honor of following you. I pray for the energy to seek your will, the discernment to know your will when you reveal it to me, and the obedience to immediately take action on that prompting. Thank you father for being my rock. I love you Lord.

Let me help equip you to Follow as you are called by the Father. Contact me on the web at realpathcoaching.com: email me at mailto:rplcoaching@gmail.comor better yet call me at 843 589-9236

Article Source: http://www.articles.narrowisthepath.com

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