January 09, 2025
IF I FOLLOW JESUS, WHERE WILL HE TAKE ME? It’s a good question. It is also one of the main excuses many adopt to refuse following the One who loves them perfectly and designed them to be on the Great Adventure with Him.
FOLLOW ME
These two words are the essence of the Christian life. He spoke them often while on earth … and to millions of us since.
As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax office, and he said to him, “Follow me,” and he got up and followed him. (Matthew 9:9)
Matthew’s response is our model. Unquestioning, he got up and followed. And so must we. His instant obedience was simple and stunning. Little did this man, who was living a horrible, traitorous life as a tax-gatherer, realize the glory that he would enter following the Master. But now here he is, the author of the first gospel in our Bibles, being used to recount the very story of his own salvation! His life went from sin and shame to glorious usefulness for all eternity.
Matthew got up and simply followed Jesus. Will you do that today? Or will you offer a thousand reasons why your way is better? You have a window to obey that’s not always open. Just get up and follow Him. Now.
FOLLOW HIM WHERE?
But where will He take us if we follow Him?
First, He will take us into His presence. We will be with HIM. In His presence is “fullness of joy and the path of life” (Psalm 16:11). There is never a better place to be—any moment of any common day—than in the presence of Christ. And, if you follow, you can be in His presence this week 24/7.
Second, as you follow Him you will follow needy people.
As he was telling them these things, suddenly one of the leaders came and knelt down before him, saying, “My daughter just died, but come and lay your hand on her, and she will live.” So Jesus and his disciples got up and followed him. (Matthew 9:19-29)
Matthew “got up and followed,” and now Jesus does the exact same thing. Jesus heard of a need and “got up and followed.” Matthew and the other disciples followed Him there, for they were simply following Jesus. They would have never gone there if they hadn’t been following Jesus … and they would have missed the miracle. As they followed, they had a front-row seat to the activity of God. Matthew even became the one who would record it for all time so we could know.
Jesus goes where He can seek and save the lost. Heal the sick. Help the needy. Show people who the Father is by engaging in the most challenging places and bringing the greatest glory.
If you don’t want to go there, then don’t follow Jesus. And also, don’t say you’re really following Jesus if you find you are NOT regularly, daily there. For that’s always where He’s going.
There are many times when He withdraws to be with His Father and prepare. But when He was around people, He was serving. And that’s where He’ll take you.
And you will find it the most engaging, thrilling, miraculous adventure you could be involved in. God will take you places you never dreamed of and use you in ways you could never imagine. You were made like God is (in His image), so you could join Him in what He does.
Follow Jesus as He follows others. You’ll stand in heaven eternally with no regrets.
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