July 19th

JULY 19th

What is Jesus saying to you today? Close your eyes and picture if you will that Jesus is standing there right in front of you speaking to you. What would He be saying? Knowing the day that is ahead of you, knowing the hard things in your life right now, what would He say to you? Oh sure, He would say, “I love you.” But then what?

I think first He would say, “Come, follow me.”

John 1:43 The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, “Come, follow me.”

Luke 9:59 He said to another person, “Come, follow me.”

This is Jesus, this is His signature call. He says “Come, follow me.” He doesn’t stop saying that to us. He calls us to follow Him every day.

Matthew 4:19 “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.”

Mark 1:17 “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.”

He calls us to come and follow Him but it isn’t a casual stroll on a beach somewhere with no agenda. He calls us to follow Him to be made into someone who calls others the way He does. He doesn’t call us for our own good, He calls us to call others. We aren’t left out of the equation, we definitely benefit, but it is not all about us. That is where we find the full abundant life that He promises to His followers. We give ourselves and find that we receive more than we can imagine. He calls us to fish for other followers. But, not only is it not about us, this call to follow Him requires us to let go of every “me” thing in our lives and hearts. Jesus made it clear that to follow Him, to Truly follow Him and not just believe, requires completely giving up self. That surrender is the only way to follow Him. And following Him is the only way to fulfilling Life.

Mark 10:21 Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

Luke 18:22 When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

Matthew 19:21 Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

So what do you have to “sell” today? We all have things that we need to let go of every day. Jesus isn’t looking for believers, He isn’t looking to be an add on to our lives. He is looking for followers and He wants people who will sell out to Him and ask Him to replace their life with His. He wants people who will let Him make their lives completely different. How about you? Have you given Him ALL of the keys or are you still holding on to the one that opens your closet full of your “me” stuff?

Today let’s decide to follow Him and surrender completely.

Jesus, I hear you calling me to total surrender today. Help me to let go of the things that I am still not surrendering to you. Help me to recognize the parts of me that I have not surrendered yet. Please make me willing to let go. Help me to be completely and totally following you. Thank you for wanting me to walk with you today on your path not mine. Show me how to follow you through my day today. Show me when I start to take my own path instead of yours. Thank you for your patience and your perfect love.