John 1:43 --- The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, “Follow me.”
The first two disciples we see in the Gospel of John, go after Jesus themselves. He turns and confronts them by asking "What are you seeking?". Now we see Jesus coming to Philip and simply saying two words…………..
"Follow Me."
How simple, yet so infinitely deep of a command from Jesus. The word follow in the Greek is akoloutheō and means: to be in the same way with, to accompany (specially as a disciple): or follow.
Here Philip stands…confronted by a command from Jesus. It's 100% up to him what to do next. He could follow, he could question, he could argue, he could stand rooted, he could walk away, he could get angry, etc… Jesus didn't give him an hour-long speech on the pros and cons of following Him or list out all his credentials. He left Philip with a choice.
As I prayed on this simple, two-word command today. It really affected me deeply. Even once we've accepted Jesus and are children of God, we are still confronted by Him and His Word daily. That is if you're choosing to get into His word and prayer every day! If not, why?
As I prayed over the artwork today the scene from Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade came to me. At the end Indiana comes to a giant chasm that cannot be crossed. He consults his father's notes and they say this is a test. The test is called, 'The Path of God' and the clue is "Only in the leap from the lion's head will he prove his worth.". It is accompanied by the artwork today, showing a knight walking on nothing across a chasm while all others fall. Indiana says, "It's a leap of faith.".
So many people want the brochure up front with all questions answered, including a detailed one, three and five year plan of exactly how every single day will be once they accept Jesus. While there is so much info out there, so many good preachers/teachers, plenty of Christians who will sit and answer questions; in the end you are still confronted with Jesus saying, "Follow Me.".
You are brought to a chasm that can only be crossed with a leap of faith. You could turn back. You could yell, question, gripe. The choice is yours and yours alone. In the end there is only one path to God and that is Jesus. Will you take that first step, that leap of faith to respond to Jesus calling out, "Follow Me?"
You are loved, you are prayed over, and you are not alone. If you need prayer, to talk, or just someone to listen, please reach out!
Comments