Bible League: Living His Word The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He met Philip and said to him, "Follow me."— John 1:43 ERV The verse of today speaks about the greatest leader the world ever had! A leader is defined by his followers, those who believe in him. I am a soccer fan, not a soccer follower. However, when it comes to Jesus Christ, I am a follower, not a fan. A fan is defined as an enthusiastic supporter. In our Christian community, we have these two types of people, those that are followers of Christ and those that are fans. The fans sit and watch from a distance and scream and wish Jesus would do it their way. They are clueless about the experience and obedience required for doing the will of the Father. They just want to be prayed for and wish to be on fire like the followers who have paid the price! For Jesus' mission of human salvation to continue across the world, He needed followers, the disciples. These followers were with Jesus; He taught them about His kingdom, and they also lived to demonstrate the Kingdom of God. In the context of this verse, Jesus had met Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter. Simon was brought by Andrew to Jesus, as we are all accountable to bring our circle of family, friends, colleagues, and neighbors to Jesus Christ. Philip must have heard of Jesus from these brothers and trusted. He did not ask Jesus, "Where are you going?" or "Follow you for what good reason?" Beloved, following Jesus requires obedience and discipline. Jesus Christ made the Gospel to be simple and effective, He empowers His followers to witness about him (Acts 1:8). Matthew 4:19 Jesus says to the newly recruited followers, "Come, follow me, and I will make you different kind of fishermen. You will bring in people, not fish." The followers of Christ are sharpened by Him, to do His unfinished mission on His behalf. We are all invited to come. Whatever business or career you follow, Jesus can make you a different kind of professional! He will teach you how to fish for people and put them on his net, His kingdom (Matthew 13:47-50). When you follow Jesus or abide in him, you need to keep focus, be alert. In 1 John 2:6 we read, "If we say we live in God, we must live the way Jesus lived." Hallelujah! Within a convoy on the road, all the vehicles keep close to each other, and wherever the leading car turns, the entire row of vehicles follow! Each driver keeps up and follows! Let us keep up and follow Jesus as He makes us be the community of believers that represent Him while in this fallen world. My beloved brother and sister, who is leading you? Are you still following Jesus? By Christopher Thetswe, Bible League International staff, South Africa Bible in a Year Old Testament ReadingProverbs 5, 6 Proverbs 5 -- My son, pay attention to my wisdom NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Proverbs 6 -- If you have struck your hands in pledge for a stranger; NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading 1 Corinthians 14:1-20 1 Corinthians 14 -- Prophecy and Tongues; Orderly Worship NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.Insight Many people react negatively to the fact that there is no other name than that of Jesus to call on for salvation. Yet this is not something the church decided; it is the specific teaching of Jesus himself. If God designated Jesus to be the Savior of the world, no one else can be his equal. Christians are to be open-minded on many issues, but not on how we are saved from sin. No other religious teacher could die for our sins; no other religious teacher came to earth as God's only Son; no other religious teacher rose from the dead. Challenge Our focus should be on Jesus, whom God offered as the way to have an eternal relationship with himself. There is no other name or way! Morning and Evening by Spurgeon Mark 1:41 I will; be thou clean.Primeval darkness heard the Almighty fiat, "light be," and straightway light was, and the word of the Lord Jesus is equal in majesty to that ancient word of power. Redemption like Creation has its word of might. Jesus speaks and it is done. Leprosy yielded to no human remedies, but it fled at once at the Lord's "I will." The disease exhibited no hopeful signs or tokens of recovery, nature contributed nothing to its own healing, but the unaided word effected the entire work on the spot and forever. The sinner is in a plight more miserable than the leper; let him imitate his example and go to Jesus, "beseeching him and kneeling down to him." Let him exercise what little faith he has, even though it should go no further than "Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean;" and there need be no doubt as to the result of the application. Jesus heals all who come, and casts out none. In reading the narrative in which our morning's text occurs, it is worthy of devout notice that Jesus touched the leper. This unclean person had broken through the regulations of the ceremonial law and pressed into the house, but Jesus so far from chiding him broke through the law himself in order to meet him. He made an interchange with the leper, for while he cleansed him, he contracted by that touch a Levitical defilement. Even so Jesus Christ was made sin for us, although in himself he knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. O that poor sinners would go to Jesus, believing in the power of his blessed substitutionary work, and they would soon learn the power of his gracious touch. That hand which multiplied the loaves, which saved sinking Peter, which upholds afflicted saints, which crowns believers, that same hand will touch every seeking sinner, and in a moment make him clean. The love of Jesus is the source of salvation. He loves, he looks, he touches us, we live. Daily Light on the Daily Path Ruth 3:18 Then she said, "Wait, my daughter, until you know how the matter turns out; for the man will not rest until he has settled it today."Isaiah 7:8 "For the head of Aram is Damascus and the head of Damascus is Rezin (now within another 65 years Ephraim will be shattered, so that it is no longer a people), Psalm 46:10 "Cease striving and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." John 11:40 Jesus said to her, "Did I not say to you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?" Isaiah 2:17 The pride of man will be humbled And the loftiness of men will be abased; And the LORD alone will be exalted in that day, Luke 10:39 She had a sister called Mary, who was seated at the Lord's feet, listening to His word. Luke 10:42 but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her." Isaiah 30:15 For thus the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel, has said, "In repentance and rest you will be saved, In quietness and trust is your strength." But you were not willing, Psalm 4:4 Tremble, and do not sin; Meditate in your heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah. Psalm 37:7 Rest in the LORD and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, Because of the man who carries out wicked schemes. Psalm 112:7,8 He will not fear evil tidings; His heart is steadfast, trusting in the LORD. • His heart is upheld, he will not fear, Until he looks with satisfaction on his adversaries. Isaiah 28:16 Therefore thus says the Lord GOD, "Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a tested stone, A costly cornerstone for the foundation, firmly placed. He who believes in it will not be disturbed. New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org. |
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