Discipleship

When The LORD’S People Pray

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And the LORD appeared to Solomon by night, and said unto him, “I have heard thy prayer, and have chosen this place to Myself for an house of sacrifice. If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among My people; if My people, which are called by My name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.  Now Mine eyes shall be open, and Mine ears attent unto the prayer that is made in this place.  For now have I chosen and sanctified this house, that My name may be there for ever: and Mine eyes and Mine heart shall be there perpetually.
2 Chronicles 7:12-16

Though these words, spoken by the LORD, were spoken to Solomon and the nation of Israel they are valuable for the Church – the body of Christ.  The Church regenerated is made up of believers, followers of Jesus Christ, and Jesus gives us power in prayer.

We, the people, who wear the name of Jesus,  and call ourselves Christians; for the sake of our neighbor, our nation and the rest of the world need to heed the message God give us in verses 12-16 above.  We first need to humble ourselves here in the United States of America; and in humility pray, seek the face of God, turn from our wicked ways.

Conservatism neither Liberalism will save our nation; only God can; but He will not unless Christians submit to God and His word, repenting, and in faith believing He can and will deliver us.  Our nation is in trouble. Let us humble ourselves before LORD,  seek His face, and turn from our wicked ways, then we can stand back, and watch what God can do.

The only hope for the U. S. of A., my nation and yours; and for all the nations of the world is Jesus Christ the Son of the Living God who is the Maker of the heavens and the earth.

The Cornerstone.

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The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner. This is the LORD’S doing; it is marvellous in our eyes. This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.

Psalm 118:22-24

I have learned through the study of Scripture, and other men of God who have studied the Scriptures that the cornerstone was the stone that determined the size and the shape of a building. The bigger the cornerstone the bigger the building; and if the stone was rectangular  then the building would be rectangular. That means the cornerstone is the most important part of beginning a building.

How important is the Psalms in prophecy, especially concerning the Messiah? Well to ease our minds about this question let’s see what Jesus said,

“These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the Prophets, and in the Psalms, concerning Me.”  Luke 24:44

So Jesus said that the Psalms, along with the books of the Law, and the prophets were prophetic and must be fulfilled.

Concerning the text for this study it is quoted by Jesus in Matthew 21:42; Mark 12:10, and Luke 20:17. It is quoted by Peter in Acts 4:11, and the First Epistle of Peter in chapter 2 verse 7.

There is much to learn from the study of Jesus Christ as the Cornerstone, and I believe that the most important thing to know is that He is only one who can save us from our sins. We cannot just lay Him aside and forget about Him. He presented Himself to His own people, and they rejected Him, thus He was convicted of the crime of blasphemy, and other false accusations, found guilty and crucified on a Roman cross,

Remember, if the cornerstone sets the size and the shape of the building, then Jesus Christ as the Cornerstone, determines the size, shape, and completion of the Church He is building.

There is coming a day when a final soul will call on the name of the Lord for salvation, they will be saved; and there will be no more. That day has not come – Thank You Lord. So today is the day of salvation. Your last chance for salvation might be today.

As the rejected cornerstone He was killed on a cruel Roman cross, He was buried, and He arose and came out of that tomb, alive forever more. When we put faith and trust in Him, turning from our sin, He saves us.

Fall on Him. Hear what Jesus said,

“What is this then that is written, ‘The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner?’  Whosoever shall fall upon that stone shall be broken; but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.’     Luke 20:17

 

Behaving Wisely

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And Saul saw and knew that the LORD was with David, and that Michal Saul’s daughter loved him.  And Saul was yet the more afraid of David; and Saul became David’s enemy continually. Then the princes of the Philistines went forth: and it came to pass, after they went forth, that David behaved himself more wisely than all the servants of Saul; so that his name was much set by.
1 Samuel 18:28-30

King Saul had grown envious of David. Why?  Because Saul could see and he knew that the Spirit of the LORD had left himself, and was now in his servant David.

Why had the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul?  The king had been disobedient too many times. Some of the times his disobedience was due to his arrogance and pride. Those things can get in the way of behaving wisely.

The Spirit of the LORD was within David from the moment Samuel anointed David as the next king of Israel (1 Samuel 16:12-13). To make one thing clear for the Spirit of the LORD – He can dwell within many at the same time; because the Spirit of the LORD was on and in Samuel as well. It was because of David’s love for the LORD God, and thankfulness for His work in his life that he behaved himself wisely as he went out, and as he came in

Saul was afraid of David, also because he could see, and he knew that the LORD was with David. When the Spirit of the LORD is with you, and you know it, there is nothing you have to fear. You are at peace, you have faith, and confidence that the LORD is working in and through your life, and that nothing can get in the way of the Lord’s working in you.

Behaving wisely is  work of the Holy Spirit of God in the follower, the disciple of Jesus Christ today. Behaving wisely does not mean doing whatever I want with my life. Behaving wisely means following the Lord’s direction for one’s life; going where He goes, doing what He does, loving like He does, and loving what and who He does, and also hating what He hates.

We cannot behave wisely apart from the Spirit of the LORD, whom we know as the Holy Spirit given to everyone who comes by faith to the Lord Jesus Christ in  repentance, confessing one’s sin, turning from sin to Christ believing Him and His work on the cross dying for the sins of the world, His burial, and resurrection. When you have received this free gift of grace God gives us His Holy Spirit, and then we will begin “Behaving Wisely.” Also read Ephesians 2;8-10.

They Lifted Up Their Voice, and Wept

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Do people weep anymore? Do people cry over their own vile and wicked ways? Does anyone even care?

And an angel of the LORD came up from Gilgal to Bochim, and said, “I made you to go up out of Egypt, and have brought you unto the land which I sware unto your fathers;” and I said, “I will never break My covenant with you. And ye shall make no league with the inhabitants of this land; ye shall throw down their altars: but ye have not obeyed My voice: why have ye done this?” Wherefore I also said, “I will not drive them out from before you; but they shall be as thorns in your sides, and their gods shall be a snare unto you.” And it came to pass, when the angel of the LORD spake these words unto all the children of Israel, that the people lifted up their voice, and wept. And they called the name of that place Bochim: and they sacrificed there unto the LORD.
Judges 2:1-5

The children of Israel had failed to do all that the LORD had told them to do. They were commanded to drive out the inhabitants of the land they took possession of; they did not do that in many cases. Reading chapter one we read that the enemy “Had chariots of iron,” so they could not drive them out. Some kept the enemy captives, and as servants/slaves, and this was disobedience to the LORD.

If you will notice three things in the text above:

1. The LORD reminds the people that He brought them up out of the land of Egypt delivering them from hundreds of years of slavery there. That is to remind them, and future generations; even believers/followers of Jesus Christ, that we have been given an even greater deliverance from sin;

2. The LORD reminds them that He will never break His covenant with us; and He does not ever do so. However, that covenant has a clause that says they are to believe Him, trust Him, through obedience in love for Him, so if the child of God gets out of the way and will of God, some discipline, chastisement takes place. So we must take notice of the danger for the follower of Jesus Christ. He does not break His covenant with us, and He will chastise us when we do not love Him enough to obey His word;

3. The LORD’S word to Israel was that the LORD would drive out the inhabitants of the land of Canaan, as long as they were obedient to the commandments of the LORD and not take captives, but to destroy their altars, their idols – their worship of demons; because that is what it is to worship any so called god, made by the hands of men. Now the LORD says, “I will not drive them out from before you, they shall be thorns in your sides, and their gods shall be a snare unto you.” The LORD wants to bless His people; however, He cannot look upon iniquity.

Jeremiah the prophet told the people of his day “”Thine own wickedness shall correct thee, and thy backslidings shall reprove thee: know therefore and see that it is an evil thing and bitter, that thou hast forsaken the LORD thy God, and that My fear is not in thee,” saith the Lord GOD of hosts (Jeremiah 2:19). We do need to realize that our sin offends God. When the child of God realizes sin is an offense to the LORD, that should cause us to weep until we draw near to Him (James 4:8).

One must first come to God through His Son Jesus Christ who became sin for us on the cross, receiving God’s wrath for us. He died in our place, was buried, and He rose again, and when we trust Him alone for salvation, He gives us His righteousness, and a place in eternity with Him.

A Rebellious Son

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If a man have a stubborn and rebellious son, which will not obey the voice of his father, or the voice of his mother, and that, when they have chastened him, will not hearken unto them: then shall his father and his mother lay hold on him, and bring him out unto the elders of his city, and unto the gate of his place; and they shall say unto the elders of his city, “This our son is stubborn and rebellious, he will not obey our voice; he is a glutton, and a drunkard.”  And all the men of his city shall stone him with stones, that he die: so shalt thou put evil away from among you; and all Israel shall hear, and fear.
Deuteronomy 21:18-21

I have read this as many times as I have read through the Bible. That is probably forty plus times, and I do not remember ever making comments about it from the pulpit, or in a post on here. This is part of the Law of God.

I do not remember reading of any rebellious son where the parents actually had a rebellious son, and did as these verses tell us. This is the only place in the Bible where “Rebellious son” is even used. I say this only to point out, that I do not see too many, if any parents turning their son or daughter over to be stoned to death. The option to do so is there, if they reach a place of hopelessness for their child.

You will notice in the verses the father and the mother are the ones who bring the charges against the son, and the men in the city are to stone him to death.

Dealing with a rebellious son or daughter is often difficult, but many times when a parent turns that child over to the Lord, He has a way of reaching them, and turning them around.

We need to discipline our children, by teaching them of God – and show them you as a parent know and love the Lord. If your life as a parent does not match what you are saying, then you will certainly have problems. We also must discipline them when they do a wrong thing, such as when you tell a young child, “No!” and they go ahead and do what you told them not to do. Always let them know that you love them.

Be a parent. Some of the other children can be their friend(s). Being a friend to your child can take place when they are grown, and have a family of their own.

It is a great necessity that I remind you, that at one time, before we came to faith in Christ Jesus we were rebellious children, and worthy of death, but God loved us, and gave His own Son as a sacrifice for sin; “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”  Romans 5:8. Even after receiving Christ Jesus as Lord and Savior we are still rebellious to God’s way for us, and turn away from Him. We are foolish and think that we know better than God. When God chastens us, we need to be very grateful for His doing so. John the apostle said, “If we confess our sins, then He is faithful to forgive our sins, and cleanse from all unrighteousness” 1 John 1:9.

Are you being a rebellious child? Repent, and believe on the name of Jesus Christ.

Build Up Yourselves In The Truth

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The elder unto the elect lady and her children, whom I love in the truth; and not I only, but also all they that have known the truth; for the truth’s sake, which dwelleth in us, and shall be with us for ever. 2 John 1:1-2
Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God. 3 John 1:11
But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.  Jude 1:20-21

All Things Fulfilled

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And He said unto them,
“These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the Law of Moses, and in the Prophets, and in the Psalms, concerning Me.”
Then opened He their understanding, that they might understand the Scriptures, and said unto them,
“Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And ye are witnesses of these things. And, behold, I send the promise of My Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.”
Luke 24:44-49

To Stand Before The Son of Man

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“…And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.”
Luke 21:34-36

The Way Of Righteousness

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I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of witty inventions.
The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.  Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom: I am understanding; I have strength.  By me kings reign, and princes decree justice.  By me princes rule, and nobles, even all the judges of the earth.
I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.
Riches and honour are with me; yea, durable riches and righteousness.  My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold; and my revenue than choice silver.
I lead in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment: that I may cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures.

Proverbs 8:12-21

Revealing the Children of God

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Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as He is righteous.  He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.  Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for His seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.  In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.
1 John 3:7-10

The Word Of God Is At Work In You Who Believe

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For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.  For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches of God which in Judaea are in Christ Jesus: for ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews: who both killed the Lord Jesus, and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they please not God, and are contrary to all men: forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved, to fill up their sins alway: for the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost.
1 Thessalonians 2:13-16

Walking In Love

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Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; and walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given Himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.  But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.  For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
Ephesians 5:1-5

Examine Yourselves

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Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?  But I trust that ye shall know that we are not reprobates.  Now I pray to God that ye do no evil; not that we should appear approved, but that ye should do that which is honest, though we be as reprobates.  For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth.  For we are glad, when we are weak, and ye are strong: and this also we wish, even your perfection.  Therefore I write these things being absent, lest being present I should use sharpness, according to the power which the Lord hath given me to edification, and not to destruction.
2 Corinthians 13:5-10

God Gives The Increase

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Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?  I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.  So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.  Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.  For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building.
1 Corinthians 3:5-9

…They entered the temple… and taught

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Then the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him, (which is the sect of the Sadducees,) and were filled with indignation, and laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison.  But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth, and said, “Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life.”  And when they heard that, they entered into the temple early in the morning, and taught.”
Acts 5:17- 20a

Only One Way

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Thomas saith unto him, “Lord, we know not whither Thou goest; and how can we know the way?”  Jesus saith unto him,
“I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me.  If ye had known Me, ye should have known My Father also: and from henceforth ye know Him, and have seen Him.”
Philip saith unto Him, “Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us.” Jesus saith unto him,
“Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known Me, Philip? He that hath seen Me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, ‘Shew us the Father?’ Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak unto you I speak not of Myself: but the Father that dwelleth in Me, He doeth the works. Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me: or else believe Me for the very works’ sake.”
John 14:5-11

Being A Disciple Of Jesus

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And there went great multitudes with Him: and He turned, and said unto them,
“If any man come to Me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple.  And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after Me, cannot be my disciple.  For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?  Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, saying, ‘This man began to build, and was not able to finish.’ “
Luke 14:25-30

Partakers of the Benefit

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Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honour, that the name of God and His doctrine be not blasphemed.  And they that have believing masters, let them not despise them, because they are brethren; but rather do them service, because they are faithful and beloved, partakers of the benefit. These things teach and exhort.
If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; he is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.
1 Timothy 6:1-5

Equipping The Saints

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…Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: that we be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; but speaking the truth in love, may grow up into Him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: from whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.
Ephesians 4:13-16

Expectations

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For I fear, lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I would, and that I shall be found unto you such as ye would not: lest there be debates, envyings, wraths, strifes, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults: lest, when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and that I shall bewail many which have sinned already, and have not repented of the uncleanness and fornication and lasciviousness which they have committed.
2 Corinthians 12:20-21

Jesus Taught in a Friend’s Home

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Now it came to pass, as they went, that He entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received Him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard His word. But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to Him, and said, “Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? Bid her therefore that she help me.” And Jesus answered and said unto her,
“Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: but one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.”                                                       Luke 10:38-42

Jesus and his disciples  were invited to the home of Martha, Mary and Lazarus. Lazarus is the one raised from the dead in John 11; and he had been in the grave for for four days.

To sit at Jesus’s feet is to sit in learning by hearing him, and growing in him to know Him and the Father better and more intimately.

Martha was one who was concerned about feeding and taking care of her guests, and no one can find fault in that. Serving others is truly a trait, and calling of all who will follow Jesus. Evidently Martha had asked Mary to help her serve their guests, but Mary was pleased to remain at Jesus’ feet hearing Him and learning.

It is important for us to serve others. It is of the utmost importance, that before we can rightly serve others we must learn from the  words of Jesus; hearing Him, growing in the knowledge and grace and growing deeper in our love for Him.

Our time should be mostly spent growing in Christ Jesus, learning at His feet by way of the reading of Scripture (His word), and in prayer. When we do that we will be more able servants, as well as better witnesses for His name.

Faith and Duty

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And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith. And the Lord said,
“If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, ‘Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea;’ and it should obey you. But which of you, having a servant plowing or feeding cattle, will say unto him by and by, when he is come from the field, ‘Go and sit down to meat?’ And will not rather say unto him, ‘Make ready wherewith I may sup, and gird thyself, and serve me, till I have eaten and drunken; and afterward thou shalt eat and drink?’
Doth he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I trow not. So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, ‘We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.'”          Luke 17:5-10

The disciples have come to Jesus asking Him “Increase our faith” (v, 5), and Jesus tells them the above words in part of His answer.

What can we learn from His lesson? First, we must have our faith solely in the One who gives it, and that is God through His Son Jesus. Second, we must go about our duty to Him with love and admiration without expecting anything except the pleasure of knowing Him and serving Him. Thirdly, we need to see ourselves as unworthy of the duty that we have, and be grateful for such a great privilege.

This goes back to loving God with all our hearts, all our souls, all our minds, and all our strengths. When we truly love God we will love our neighbors; then we can have the faith that moves sycamine trees into the sea.

I guess I am not there yet; but I am learning.

The Lord of the Harvest

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But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. Then saith He unto His disciples,
“The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that He will send forth labourers into His harvest.”   Matthew 9:36-38

You Follow Me

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“Then Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved following; which also leaned on His breast at supper, and said, ‘Lord, which is he that betrayeth Thee?’ Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, ‘Lord, and what shall this man do?’  Jesus saith unto him, ‘If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? Follow thou Me.’ ”  John 21:20-22

The Lord Jesus, recently resurrected from the grave, has told Peter how he is going to live, and how he is going to die. Then Peter begins to think about “that other guy”. We know “that other guy” is John; he is the one who leaned on Jesus’s breast at the meal and the last supper.

Now, Peter’s question is not without the likeness of many people of all ages, including yours truly. “What about Joe?” or we may ask, “What about Jan?”, “What are You going to expect of them?” “Lord, You sent Joe to Hawaii. Why don’t You send me to some place like Hawaii?”

The Lord’s answer to Peter was, “You follow Me”. That is His answer for you and me as well.

Our personal relationship with the Lord involves me going where the Lord leads me. I am to follow Jesus, and not be distracted where He might send you, Joe or Jan.

The Following

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“The day following Jesus would go forth into Galilee, and findeth Philip, and saith unto him,
‘Follow me.’
Now Philip was of Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, ‘We have found Him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the Son of Joseph.’ And Nathanael said unto him, ‘Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth?’ Philip saith unto him, ‘Come and see.’
Jesus saw Nathanael coming to Him, and saith of him,
‘Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!’
Nathanael saith unto Him, ‘Whence knowest thou me?’ Jesus answered and said unto him,
‘Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee.’
Nathanael answered and saith unto Him, ‘Rabbi, Thou art the Son of God; Thou art the King of Israel.’ Jesus answered and said unto him,
‘Because I said unto thee, I saw thee under the fig tree, believest thou? Thou shalt see greater things than these.’
And He saith unto him,
‘Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.’ ” John 1:43-51 (KJB)

Jesus was beginning to call to Himself those who would follow Him. He is still calling those who will follow Him.

There are too many Christians who need to learn what it means to follow. Too many want to tell Him what they want; and do not listen to what He says, or to His commandments. We are to be followers of Christ and that means to hear, listen and do what He does.

To Philip, Jesus said, “Follow Me.” Philip followed Jesus then went and found his brother Nathanael and brought him to Jesus.

I find it encouraging to note that Jesus knew Nathanael even before they were personally introduced. Jesus also knows us; each and everyone of us and when He calls us to follow it is by His great love and marvelous grace.

Others will come to Jesus as we tell them about Him. Who is Jesus? He is the one whom Philip told Nathanael, “We have found Him”. He was speaking of the Messiah/Christ. He is the Son of God, God the Son; the God-Man. He desires you to follow Him. Do you hear Him calling?

Call out to Him in repentant faith and He will hear and He will save you from your sins.