"FOLLOW ME!"

Luke 9:18-24                                  (ESV)
"18 Now it happened that as HE was praying alone, the disciples were with him. And he asked them, "Who do the crowds say that I am?"
19 And they answered, "John the Baptist. But others say, Elijah, and others, that one of the prophets of old has risen."
20 Then HE said to them, "But who do you say that I AM?" And Peter answered, "The CHRIST of GOD."
21 And HE strictly charged and commanded them to tell this to no one,
22 saying, "The SON of MAN must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised."
23 And HE said to all, "If anyone would come after ME, let him deny himself and take up his cross DAILY and "FOLLOW ME".
24 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for MY sake will save it."



There is much conversation about who is a FOLLOWER of JESUS, and who isn't a believer.  JESUS HIMSELF addressed this issue with HIS disciples in the passage of scripture above.   Peter evidently knew that JESUS was, and is, the CHRIST of GOD because he stated so in verse 20.  But the thing Peter, and everyone else when the time came to do so, failed to do was "FOLLOW ME"!

There are those who want to claim they are a Believer in JESUS CHRIST, and may even give money to the church every so often.  Or they may give funds to the homeless, or needy, to help their conscience, while living a life of relative luxury.  JESUS was rather blunt when HE told his disciples that HE would voluntarily let HIMSELF be killed as a sacrifice for mankind.  Knowing that, who is on board to "FOLLOW ME"?

JESUS told the disciples that they needed to take up their cross and "FOLLOW ME", not once to Calvary, but DAILY!  No, JESUS wasn't suggesting that all believers should be crucified, as without divine intervention your body couldn't handle being crucified more than once.  But I believe the point JESUS was trying to get across to us is that  we need to surrender to HIS will for our lives, to "FOLLOW ME" in our actions!

Do my actions reflect me doing the things that draw glory to THE FATHER?  Or do I do things to build my net worth, or increase my standing in "this world"?  Maybe sometimes I get more concerned with walking hand in hand with JESUS instead of "FOLLOW ME"?  It is difficult to "FOLLOW ME" when GOD hasn't revealed exactly where you are going, nor how you are supposed to overcome obstacles?  Until we grasp that to "FOLLOW ME" is best done by allowing JESUS to go before us, we are still trying to live for ourselves!  It may be time to "FOLLOW ME"!!!