Following Christ to the END

I can follow Him because it's the RIGHT thing to do.

I can follow Him because He's the only way to a blessed life....or because He's the only way to healing....deliverance...because He is a miracle-maker.

Or... I can choose to follow Him when there's nothing in it for me--When everything's against me, when it's not in MY favor, but HIS.

I can follow Him for what I can do for HIM, and not what He can do for ME. Follow Him for what I can do--with my hands, my feet, my voice, my heart.

He lived for me--So now I live for HIM.

He died for me--So now I lose my life for HIM.

He was beaten, bruised, mocked, and unaccepted by this world....FOR ME.

So now, I give my ALL to Him.

"Peter answered him, "We have left everything to follow you! What then will there be for us?" Jesus said to them, "Truly I tell you, in the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on His glorious throne, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel..." (Matthew 19:27-28).

"The Son of man did not come to be served, but to serve and give up his life for the ransom of many."

So shall we. We are not here to BE SERVED, but to SERVE. Not to gain the world, but to lose your life for it.

There are three levels of following Christ

1. Come follow me, and I will make you fishers of men (Leave your life behind to follow him. Accepting Him as Lord and Savior, and turning your back to your old life).

2. Mark 8:34--Take up your cross, deny SELF, and then follow (The next level is denying self and taking up your cross/ministry)

3. John 21:19--Taking care of His sheep. This level takes you were you don't want to go, and includes laying your life down for others. This level of following Christ led many disciples and apostles to martyrdom. Those who are faithful to the END will receive the crown of life (Rev. 2:10).

Prayer:

Lord, I will follow you to the end. I don't want to watch from afar what is happening. I don't want to be like the people who shouted "Hosanna" when everything was good, and there was victory. I don't want to just follow you when you can feed the 5,000, or heal the sick, and deliver the oppressed. I want to be the person that comes to the cross when it seems life there is defeat, no victory, when the "Savior" was hanging dead and lifeless on the tree. I want to follow you when there is nothing in it for me. When you are silent. When I am waiting. I want to follow you for who YOU are.