15.09.2020
IBC Admin
"Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve... as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”
Joshua 24:15
We read in Ephesians 2:1-3 that before we believe in Jesus we all were followers of sin, the world and Satan. Regarding sin, we were “dead in our trespasses and sins… in which we walked… following the passions of our flesh.” In terms of the world, we were beholden to it, “following its pattern or course.” The world and its desire lured us with the promise of pleasure and things. And with the devil, we see in vs. 3, that we were followers of “the prince of the power of the air.”
Our disposition before coming to know Christ as Savior was to follow the things that were opposed to God. But now the goodnews of the gospel is that through faith in Christ were given a new way of life, “God made us alive together with Him.” (vs. 5) This new way of life enables us to point ourselves in an entirely new direction. A direction that is Godward and leads to pleasing God, instead of seeking our own way.
Everyone has a choice to make in terms of what they will follow. Some choose money and success, others pleasure, and still others an idea that they believe will lead them to a better life. But God gives us only way choice that will lead a person an abundant life that will go on into eternity, and that is following Jesus.
When Jesus called out to his first disciples, Peter and Andrew, they were fishing. Their response, “Immediately they left their nets and followed Him.” (Matt 4:20) What I like about that response is that it was immediate. They didn’t hold on to that which they knew would pass (fishing), but followed Jesus.
What are you following these days? Are you following Him or your own idea of what is good? Are you following Him, or are you following the ideas of another? Let us be reminded that Jesus is “the way the truth and the life.” (John 14:6) All other paths are empty and in the end will lead to emptiness. But the “one who does the will of God endures forever.” (I John 2:17)