John 21:22

John 21:22 - Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.”

A decision has to be made. You can’t side with the crowd, you can’t phone a friend. It is not about what everyone else is doing. This decision is one you have to make for yourself. Are you going to follow Jesus? Are you going to do what He has called you to do?
Often we find ourselves where Peter was on this day, wanting to know about those around us. It is easier to do something if you know at least one other person will be doing it too. ‘What about him Lord?’ Peter asked.
Have you ever asked that question when God wants you to do something? I know I have. There have been times in my life where I have not acted because no one else would. I was scared to stand alone.

That’s where I was wrong in my thinking. God says that if you follow Him you will never be alone. He will never leave you or forsake you. We need to put all our trust in Him. If He tells us to do something, do it. It doesn't matter what those around you are doing. You must decide for yourself. Are you going to follow Jesus?

Peter made the decision and his life was never the same. He went on to do some amazing things for God. I promise you, though it may be hard, if you choose to follow Jesus the reward will be eternal. You must decide today who you will serve.

Luke 9:58

Luke 9:58 – Jesus replied, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay His head.”

As Jesus taught He amazed those around Him. He taught as one with authority and there were miracles happening to back up His teaching. It was exciting. There were many people that were getting caught up in the moment. With all the excitement these people said they would follow Jesus wherever He went. They made claims that they could not commit to.

When you make a commitment to follow Jesus you have to understand that it is going to cost you. As the people are making these claims Jesus takes them a step back with reality. He says that animals have homes, but He is not like the animals. “The Son of Man has no place to lay His head.”

Jesus was telling the people that He was not going to be established in any one place. His home was in heaven and while He was on earth He would not call any place home.

As we take this verse and apply it in our own lives we need to understand that there is a cost to follow Jesus. Now, to get this straight, we must realize that salvation is free to all who come to Him, but Jesus calls us to something beyond that.

Jesus has called you to live a life like He did. It’s ok to make a home for yourself, but don’t get too comfortable. Sometime in the future He may call you to leave that place. You never know, but one thing we can be sure of is that Jesus has called us to live different. Your life needs to be a reflection of Him. You are to be His witness everywhere you go.

Matthew 28:18-20

Matthew 28:18-20 - Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”


       Jesus told us to go and make disciples. That is the charge He left us with when He was getting ready to ascend back to heaven. I think many of us have the wrong idea of what this command entails.
       We will spend all of our time and energy to have a big evangelistic event and then notch our belts for every person that responded to the altar call and got ‘saved’. Don’t misunderstand me, these events are great, I enjoy doing them, but this is not what Jesus was telling us to do.
       Discipleship goes beyond getting someone ‘saved’. It has to start with salvation, but once saved we cannot leave them to fend for themselves. We need to understand that people need help to walk out their salvation.
       You see, discipleship is about relationship. It’s about teaching a person how to live the new life that were just born into. Really, it is about reproducing yourself in others, just as Christ has done in us. Like Paul said, “Follow me as I follow Christ.”
       Getting people saved is amazing, but that is only half the battle. Teaching people how to live like Jesus is where the full victory lies. Then, as we teach them to live like Jesus, they in turn will teach others to do the same. After that the increase in God’s kingdom will be exponential.

Acts 21:13-14

Acts 21:13-14 - Then Paul answered, “Why are you weeping and breaking my heart? I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” When he would not be dissuaded, we got up and said, “The Lord’s will be done.”

Paul had given up his life to serve Jesus. It was no longer about comfort and enjoying worldly pleasure, but about Jesus. In his letter to the Romans he puts it this way, “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us (Romans 8:18).” He was willing to suffer for Jesus, even to the point of death.

Paul knew that the Holy Spirit was leading him to go to Jerusalem. He also knew that the would be bound and imprisoned when he got there. All the believers that were with him were trying to persuade him not to go, but he had made up his mind to follow Jesus, whatever the cost.

God has a plan for each one of us. He has a purpose and a calling that we stepped into when we first accepted Christ into our hearts. Overall the plan is the same, it is just the details that differ. We are called to testify to the gospel of God’s grace. Wherever we are, whoever we are with, this should be our goal.

God may not ask you to go to prison for HIm, but would you be willing to? It is God’s desire is that all people be saved and come to know Him (1 Timothy 2:4). We are the instruments that God uses to reach people in the world. Wherever there are people, God needs someone to testify. What has God asked you to do? Where has He asked you to go? Are you willing to give up what you have in obedience to Him?