Follow Me

“And Jesus said, ‘Come, follow me…”

Matthew 4:19

The Gospel is the good news that God has acted on our behalf. His action demands a specific reaction on our part. The big question of the Gospel is this: What am I going to do about what God has done for me? It requires a verdict.

This verdict is primarily a response to the person of Jesus Christ. Herein lies one of the basic differences between religion and the Gospel. Religion says, “Here is an organization; join it. Here is a system of belief; understand and accept it. Here is a set of principles; practice them faithfully.” On the other hand, the Gospel says, “Here is a Person, a unique Person. Believe Him; follow Him.”

Christian experience is a relationship to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. To be a Christian in the New Testament sense of the term is more than just belonging to the church, giving mental assent to the creeds, or seeking to practice certain teachings. To be a Christian is to put one’s trust in Christ, enter into a personal relationship with Him, and follow Him from day to day.

Jesus said to Simon and his brother, Andrew, both fishermen, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men” (Matthew 4:19). To become a disciple of Christ is to become identified with Him in His redemptive ministry to the world. Christ came to seek lost people, and our task is to show them the way home. Christ died to reconcile all persons to God. Our duty is to call them to repentance and faith. Discipleship, therefore, is not a life of ease; it involves relationship with Christ and responsibility to others. It means becoming like Christ and bringing people to Him. And this is a lifetime vocation, not a temporary assignment.

Christ is still calling for disciples today. He walks into the office, factory, schoolroom, coliseum, highway, and home, saying, “Follow me.” What will your answer be?

J.T. Seamands

Thought for the day: Relationship with Christ leads to a partnership with Him.