I Follow Jesus.

3.I Follow Jesus.


I am John.

My email is ticemuh@gmail.com.


I read a book about following Jesus.

Here is my layman's take on it!


••• Firstly,

• In John 14:6

Jesus said, "I am the Way, the Truth and the Life!"

• So, I say that I am a 'Follower of the Way'.

• Believers in Jesus were called the 'Followers of the Way' from the beginning.

• The term 'christian' only came afterwards. 

• 'Christos' is Greek for 'Messiah'. The term 'christian' is an anomaly.

• In today's world the term 'christian' can mean anything you want it to.

• Many 'christians' are not even 'christian'.

• Most 'christians' are not 'Saved'.

• BUT, but, but we will let Jesus judge us!


••• So, let's begin,


1) Why do we follow Jesus?


• Is It So That We Can Get Something out of it?

• Many people 'think' that they 'follow' Jesus, but they only see Him as just a way to get what they want.

• That is not good; it's just chasing after what 'we' want.

• We should encourage those who believe in Jesus to follow Him with determination.

• May God open our eyes if we mistakenly follow Jesus with only selfish intentions.


2) How we should follow Jesus!


• I haven’t seen evidence that LESS 'Followers of the Way' die from cancer than 'Non-Followers'.

• I haven't seen that 'Followers of the Way' are more protected from diseases.

• Some of the kindest, most selfless people I know have suffered from serious health problems.

• Being a 'Follower of the Way' doesn't protect you from getting sick.

• So, I don't follow Jesus expecting to be healed under all circumstances.

• I am happy about every recovery and I pray for the health of my loved ones.

• But I don't follow Jesus just for the promise of healing.


• I don’t see 'Followers of the Way' being spared from disasters or accidents more often than others.

• I’ve had to help friends clean up after floods and fires.

• A bullet doesn’t avoid a 'Follower of the Way' just because they believe.

• So, I don't follow Jesus just to receive protection from disaster.

• I will pray for protection; but I do not follow Jesus just to be safe from harm.


• I haven’t noticed that 'Followers of the Way' are more prosperous or have more money than others.

• We’ve all seen the rich oppress the poor, and justice isn’t always fair.

• While God provides for our needs, I know good people who haven’t prospered.

• So, I don't follow Jesus just for the promise of money or freedom from want.


• I’m not sure that 'Followers of the Way' have better personalities or fewer emotional problems than others.

• I know that religious people can sometimes be bitter or arrogant.

• I’ve seen 'Followers of the Way' struggle with emotional and mental problems.

• While being a 'Follower of the Way' can improve our attitudes and actions, I do not follow Jesus expecting to be perfect.


•• So, why follow Jesus if life might become harder, as He often warned?


FOR ONE REASON:

IN JESUS, WE SEE THE FACE OF GOD !!! 


• Jesus is the Truth, the eternal Truth, God in human form.

• Through His life, death, and resurrection, I am reconnected with God, the giver of Life.

• I believe nothing can separate us from God’s love.

• He is all-powerful and good, and I trust Him and His promises.

• I offer my life to Him, whether it’s damaged or whole, short or long, because He is the one certainty in an uncertain world.

• He is to be worshiped, not to get something in return, but because He is God.

• God, who through Jesus, has reconciled the world to Himself.

• He saves me. 

• He justifies me. 

• He is the foundation that holds everything together.


3) What is our purpose?


• Our purpose is to WORSHIP the God of our Salvation and give Him PRAISE and THANKS.

• We offer our lives to God, not to be healthy, wealthy, or wise.

•  Not even to gain the strength to do great things for Him.

• WE OFFER OUR LIVES to Him because He alone has a claim on us.


4) He alone is Almighty God.


• God is not just a way to get what we want.

• May the Lord Jesus Christ be with you as you go through life’s darkest times!

• He alone is our only hope of salvation!


PRAISE HIS HOLY NAME !!

Praise Him on the mountains !!

Praise Him in the valleys !!

Praise Him when the going gets tough!

Praise Him even when the times are rough !!


Glory to God in the Highest! 


Amen!

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