Following Jesus

I have been spending time lately contemplating why Christians have such a hard time getting a long together.

Last week I was studying Matthew 10:5-42 and meditating on what Jesus told his disciples regarding how to prepare to go into the world to share the gospel. In this passage, Jesus gives pretty detailed instructions, including what to take with you, what not to take, where to go and when to know it'’s time to leave. It even includes the perspective a disciple needs to have towards the people he leaves behind and meets along the way.

As I studied this passage, I realized that Jesus was talking to his followers. They not only believed in Him, but they choose to leave their families and former lives behind to go and tell the world about Jesus.

I began to wonder if sometimes the problems that arise between some believers is not one of doctrinal disputes but it is simply the fact that many believe in Jesus, profess him as their savior, have an intellectual belief in Him but have not yet taken His word literally to their hearts. I see that some believers have an intellectual belief in him, while others have chosen a heart response to Jesus and made the choice to follow him in all areas of their lives.

I think following Jesus is a lot different than just believing in him. Following means you are intent on doing what he says, learning and obeying the lifestyle he lays out for us in scripture. It means loving him and responding to him from your heart and the belief in him is not just an intellectual acceptance of him into your life, but a spiritual acceptance into your heart that causes you to stop clinging to your old way of life and embrace his way of life.

Many Christians sit in church every Sunday. They read and study the Bible but have not yet decided to follow and be a disciple of Jesus. That decision means actively pursuing the lifestyle of discipleship that Jesus spells out for us in Matthew 10. This is a decision of the heart and spirit in regards to our desired relationship with him.

Jesus pointed out in John 5:39-40 that even the Pharisees knew scripture but yet did not recognize him as their messiah:

You search the scriptures because you believe they give you eternal life. But the scriptures point to me! Yet you refuse to come to me so that I can give you this eternal life.

It is one thing to believe in Jesus but another to choose to follow him. It is important that we not just study the scriptures or hear them but make a heart felt decision to follow him!

If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give it up for me, you will find it. Matthew 10:39

(All scripture quotes NLT)