What does it mean to follow Jesus?
I read this quote the other day from Eugene Peterson:
To follow Jesus implies that we enter into a life that is given character and shape and direction by the one who calls us.
When I read about the first disciples and look at the significance of Jesus calling them as his disciples, then compare it to today’s society it seems poles apart. But when we strip back the stuff that so easily gets in the way, at the core of each person the desire to be loved and to love others is shouting out in this world.
We can look for love in many things to try to fulfil this desire.
The disciples that Jesus called were not accepted as disciples by other Jewish Religious teachers on the grounds of their lack of religious knowledge hence they were working, yet Jesus chose them.
After teaching the crowds, Jesus then demonstrated by calling them that he believed in them, they heard the call and chose to trust and follow, allowing their lives to be shaped and the direction was now in his hands.
Their previous rejection from the religious institution was now being lined up to the living God and the plans that he had for this world.
God’s plan of dealing with man’s identity and purpose in this world was being put into place, and he started with a bunch of people who were simply ordinary men and women to carry on his plan.
The whole issue of identity is what we cry out for, yet when we look around for stuff to fulfil this desire within us we can so easily become disappointed as it never quite hits the mark.
Yet Jesus became rejected by this world so that he could pay for our sins and the root of which we all suffer- Rejection. When we accept the truth of who God is through Jesus Christ then we can discover who we really are… Loved and designed to LOVE like Jesus.
Let’s not get in the way but first accept the truth and teachings so that we can be accepted by the one who fully loves us, then allow him to shape and direct us so that we can become like him.
Let’s keep learning together and learn to follow
