As for YOU, Follow Me
September 2015
Jesus said this to let him know by what kind of death he would glorify God. Then Jesus told him, “Follow me.”
Peter turned around and saw behind them the disciple Jesus loved—the one who had leaned over to Jesus during supper and asked, “Lord, who will betray you?” Peter asked Jesus, “What about him, Lord?”
Jesus replied, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? As for you, follow Me.”
John 21:19-22 NLT
Peter turned around and saw behind them the disciple Jesus loved—the one who had leaned over to Jesus during supper and asked, “Lord, who will betray you?” Peter asked Jesus, “What about him, Lord?”
Jesus replied, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? As for you, follow Me.”
John 21:19-22 NLT
The Lord has had this particular segment of scripture in my spirit for a while now. Here we see Jesus telling Peter how he would die. Peter then turns around, notices John {known as the disciple that Jesus loved} watching them from afar and says to Jesus, "What about him, Lord?" Jesus then replies with what I believe we all need to keep in mind, "What is it to you? As for you, follow Me." Whew! Talk about a focus check. So many times along our individual journeys we get distracted. God calls us to do something outside of what we had planned or tells us to do something that doesn't exactly make sense or leads us to do something that we really just don't want to do and we look around at "Sheila" or "Bobby," and say, "What about her/him, Lord?" Other questions start to arise like:
While we are so busy asking the Lord about "John," we forget that often times "John" is watching us. But today, as God said to Peter, He says to you and I, "As for YOU, follow Me." Friend, as blood bought believers we are the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:12,27 NLT). The foot can't be overly "concerned" or a tad bit jealous of what the hand is doing. The foot has it's own "calling" to walk out and so does the hand. If one is all focused on the other, instead of focusing on the God-given, ordained assignment nothing will be accomplished. It's none of your business what she is doing or not doing. It's none of your business what God has or hasn't called him to do. Your business is to:
Friend, just follow Jesus. If people applaud you, follow Jesus. If people walk away/leave you, follow Jesus. If people don't support you, follow Jesus. If and when the enemy tries to discourage, hinder, and attack you, follow Jesus. When circumstances are screaming the opposite of what you are believing God for, follow Jesus. When it seems like everyone is ahead of you, follow Jesus. When you're tired, follow Jesus. When you just want to give up, follow Jesus. If your heart is overwhelmed and you feel stressed, follow Jesus. Mountain high or valley low, follow Jesus. When you experience manifestation of the promises that God made you, STILL follow hard after Jesus. No matter what, stay focused and follow Him!
"So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless" (1 Corinthians 15:58 NLT).
Love y'all! Be encouraged!!!:)
- Why are you requiring me to be obedient in this area
- Why do you want me to move there or stay here
- Why do you want me to stay quiet or speak up in this situation
- Why can't you use that one, or why can't you just use me for this particular task
- Why, why, why.......
While we are so busy asking the Lord about "John," we forget that often times "John" is watching us. But today, as God said to Peter, He says to you and I, "As for YOU, follow Me." Friend, as blood bought believers we are the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:12,27 NLT). The foot can't be overly "concerned" or a tad bit jealous of what the hand is doing. The foot has it's own "calling" to walk out and so does the hand. If one is all focused on the other, instead of focusing on the God-given, ordained assignment nothing will be accomplished. It's none of your business what she is doing or not doing. It's none of your business what God has or hasn't called him to do. Your business is to:
- Deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow Him (Matthew 16:24 KJV)
- Encourage each other, build each other up, and pray for one another (1 Thessalonians 5:11 NLT, James 5:16 KJV)
- Walk in love.....Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them that despitefully use and persecute you (Matthew 5:44 KJV, 46-47 NLT and 48 AMP)
- Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, and give thanks IN all circumstances (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 ESV)
- Continue to grow spiritually, stay spiritually fit, and stay humble (there's ALWAYS room to grow) (Colossians 1:9-10 AMP, Hebrews 5:11-14 NLT, 6:9-12 AMP, 1 Timothy 4:7-10 MSG, James 4:10 AMP)
- Be an example in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity (1 Timothy 4:12 NLT)
- Preach the Word! Be prepared whether the time is favorable or not. Correct, rebuke, and encourage with good teaching (2 Timothy 3:16-17, 4:2 NLT)
- Be obedient (John 14:15 NLT, 15:14 AMP, Deuteronomy 28:1-14 NLT)
- Be a disciple and make disciples. Tell others the Good News and fully carry out the ministry God has given you (Matthew 28:19-20 AMP, 2 Timothy 4:5 NLT)
- Walk by FAITH (Hebrews 11, 2 Corinthians 5:7 NKJV)
- Strip off every weight that slows you down and the sin that trips you up and run with endurance the race God has set before you, keeping your eyes on Jesus (Hebrews 12:1-2 NLT)
- Continue to spend time in prayer and in the Word. (Always remember that doing things FOR God is GREAT, but we must not allow these things to replace our personal time WITH God. Intimacy with HIM is vital. "Activity for God is not the same as intimacy with Him)" (James 1:22-23, 4:8 NKJV, Romans 12:2,12 AMP, Joshua 1:8-9 AMP, Hebrews 11:6 NKJV, Colossians 4:2 NLT, 1 Chronicles 16:11 AMP, Psalm 27:4 AMP, 8 NKJV, 105:4 NIV)
Friend, just follow Jesus. If people applaud you, follow Jesus. If people walk away/leave you, follow Jesus. If people don't support you, follow Jesus. If and when the enemy tries to discourage, hinder, and attack you, follow Jesus. When circumstances are screaming the opposite of what you are believing God for, follow Jesus. When it seems like everyone is ahead of you, follow Jesus. When you're tired, follow Jesus. When you just want to give up, follow Jesus. If your heart is overwhelmed and you feel stressed, follow Jesus. Mountain high or valley low, follow Jesus. When you experience manifestation of the promises that God made you, STILL follow hard after Jesus. No matter what, stay focused and follow Him!
"So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless" (1 Corinthians 15:58 NLT).
Love y'all! Be encouraged!!!:)