"SHARING HOPE THROUGH SCRIPTURE FOR THOSE WHO WANT TO FOLLOW JESUS"
Luke 6:13 And when it was day, He called His disciples to Himself; and from them He chose twelve whom He also named apostles.
Some explanatory thoughts and application:
1. God's plan, or desire, is of course that no one would perish, and that's why He sent Jesus, and all who receive Him, to them, He gives eternal life. So, being saved, or converted is the first part of God's plan/desire for your life.
2. Once saved, what does God call us to?. Here's what Jesus said, "Follow Me" Matt 16:24 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.
3. Something to notice and consider from the above verse. Jesus was already speaking to His disciples, (which means learners) What Jesus said to them, was an explanation for those who have the desire to "come after Me"
Here's how it reads in the NLT Matt 16:24 Then Jesus said to the disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must put aside your selfish ambition, shoulder your cross, and follow me.
Notice, "if anyone wants to be my follower" Do you have that desire, that want to? Here are then, the steps to take, or the requirements, ( not for salvation but for following or being a disciple of Christ's )
4. Jesus says there are some simple yet personal steps you must take. (1) Put aside your selfish ambition. (2) Shoulder your cross. This by the way does not mean what it's often said to mean. I.E "Well, that's my cross to bear" Speaking of some difficulty or affliction that one must simply put up with. But, what Jesus is saying, is that we must dies to ourselves. He is essentially and simply repeating what He had just said, "put aside selfish ambition" It's death to our own will, and to the things we would want to do, and it's seeking to know and do what He wants us to do. Exchanging our will for His.
5. Lastly, Jesus said, "Follow Me" Follow, means, to follow the one who precedes, join him as his attendant, accompany him. Join as his disciple, become or be his disciple, side with his party. It's been said that to be a disciple is "to get on the same road with Jesus, and simply stay on that road day by day, all the way to heaven" By the way, it does not mean, that we are simply walking behind Him, for He is actually walking with us also. We are just keeping company with Him, and He is keeping company with Him.
6. I hope the above helps you a little bit. Tomorrow, Lord willing, I'd like to share a devo about how a follower can discover their spiritual gifts and begin using them to serve the Lord.
Let's pray.
Father, thank You again, for the priceless gift of Salvation. It cost You giving us Your own Son, to die on the cross for our sins.
It cost Jesus more agony and pain then we can imagine, and You and He did this because of Your's and His great love for us.
So, thank You. And, thank You that as saved people, we can begin to follow You, and to find our spiritual gifts, our place in the body of Christ, that area of service that You have called us to.
In Jesus’ name, amen.
Pastor Bob Grenier
Calvary Chapel Visalia
