“Follow Me …Yóú follow Me” (John 21:19, 22, NKJ)
Yesterday we lingered at this incredible thought: that God decided to dwell in us and to make us a tabernacle of His Presence. But it doesn’t just happen by itself. Prior to becoming a tabernacle you need to make a definite decision, and it’s a decision that will radically influence you for the rest of your life. Before we consider the various sections of the tabernacle and determine what they mean in terms of our relationship with God, let us first ponder the process that precedes this.
When Jesus went to the simple fishermen whom He knew would become His diciples, He merely looked them in the eyes and said: “Follow Me.” He turned around, and they followed Him. Without a discussion, or setting conditions, or putting forth queries about perks. He did the same with Levi, the tax collector. Later on He came to a rich young man, looked at him with love and said “Follow Me.” The man was, however, devoted to his current life and his many possessions and he chose not to follow Him.
After Jesus had said to Simon Peter: “Follow Me,” Peter debated with Jesus about another disciple’s comings and goings, and Jesus addressed him sharply “What is it to you?…You follow Me.”
So often we are so concerned about how other people conduct their relationships with God, that it affects our relationship with God. Ghandi, even though he was a Hindu, accepted and lived by the New Testament lifestyle of Jesus – especially according to the Beatitudes (Matt 5), but he pertinently stated that as a result of the Christians he could not serve Christ.
And many of us have heard the accusation: If that is how a Christian is, then I would rather not be a Christian. We judge God based on how other people serve Him, and often we are not impressed – their religious expression looks holier-than-thou, or over-the-top, or strange, or whatever. We judge God by His ground crew, and that is so completely ridiculous.
This call from God to you is an individual matter: You…you follow Me.
- Selah: Write down in your journal your testimony of how you heard the call of Christ. If you haven’t heard it yet, then now is the time to ask Him to open your ears (according to Gen 3:9, Is 45:3 and Rev 3:20). Ask forgiveness that you often compare your walk with God to others’ and thus you don’t walk in your unique relationship with Him.
- Read: Gen 3: Ps 3; John 3
- Memorise: John 3:3, 16-17.
