“Oh come, let us worship and bow down; Let us kneel before the Lord our Maker. For He is our God, and we are the people of His pasture, and the sheep of His hand. (Psalm 95:6-7).
With deep reflection, I began to think about the relationship between sheep and their shepherd. We can learn from the animals who consistently demonstrate love, loyalty, and obedience to their shepherd.
“Sheep behave with loyalty, recognition, and trust toward their shepherd, responding to their voice, scent, and presence, which signals food, safety, and care.”
“Their behavior includes following the shepherd, calming in their presence, recognizing their unique traits, and learning routines associated with their herder.”
“This bond is built on the shepherd’s consistent provision of resources and protection.”
Following and Guidance: “Sheep will follow their shepherd willingly, knowing that the shepherd provides food, water, and guidance for their well-being.”
I began to think about our relationship with Jesus, our Loving Shepherd who desires to provide for us and protect us from Satan, our enemy. Yet, we must willingly choose to follow Jesus.
Our Greatest Challenge: We inherited hearts overflowing with desires that rebel against God’s plans for our lives.
It is easier to pursue our desires than to surrender in faithful obedience and follow our Shepherd.
Ask yourself, “What is keeping me from following Jesus, my Shepherd?”
Set aside some alone time to think about the desires, habits, and pursuits preventing you from making the commitment to become a faithful follower.
“I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me…” (John 10:14).
Jesus reminds us that He knows the pure motives of His sheep. They are the Believers who abide in Him by maintaining a heart-to-heart relationship through daily surrender.
The Characteristics of Faithful Sheep
Through daily personal worship, we consecrate ourselves utilizing Jesus’ prayer to His Father, Not my will, but Your will be done.” (Luke 22:42).
When our hearts are converted, we readily surrender ourselves to worship God in Spirit and Truth. Love and loyalty for our Shepherd is demonstrated by intentional obedience, which is our highest act of worship to God.
As time slips rapidly into eternity, we are confronted with the choice, Who will I follow? Jesus, or myself?
Our Triumphant King’s promise: “…Be faithful to the point of death, and I will give you the Crown of life. (Revelation 2:10).
The behaviors of the righteous: Follow Jesus, renounce sin, relinquish your desires, and prepare daily for His Soon Coming.
“Commit everything you do to the Lord [YAHWEH]. Trust Him, and He will help you.” (Psalm 37:5, NLT).
Lord God, thank You for giving us freedom from a sin debt that left us spiritually bankrupt. Jesus, You are our Shepherd, we give ourselves to You. Lead us, correct us, protect us, and cleanse us from the unrighteousness of our heart’s desires. With praise and faithful obedience, we thank You, God, and lift Your Name on High for the gift of Jesus. We ask this prayer in Jesus’ Holy Name, Amen.
“As Jesus went on from there, He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s booth. ‘Follow Me,’ He told him, and Matthew got up and followed Him.” (Matthew 9:9, NIV).
As Matthew, the corrupt tax collector, sat outside at the tax table, day after day, he frequently overheard many individuals talking about Jesus’ Love, Compassion, messages of Salvation, and the countless miracles of healing He performed on the multitudes.
Although Matthew was despised by the Jewish leaders and community, his social circle included men who were as wealthy and diabolical as himself. Yes, Matthew had everything that Satan offers: wealth, pleasure, social status, and an easy life.
“So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.” (Luke 14:33, ESV).
Matthew gave up the sinful pleasures of life and a prestigious job to follow Jesus. The Roman government was Matthew’s employer, and to walk away from a once-in-a-lifetime job that guaranteed forever wealth would destroy any chance of rehire.
Matthew was not intimidated by the cost of following Christ; he trusted that Jesus was exactly who He said He was, “the One sent from God.” The wealthy tax collector who immediately got up [without hesitation and with silence] from the table demonstrated the giant leap of faith that boldly says, “I have decided to follow Jesus, no turning back.”
The same leap of faith required to follow Christ is one that many of today’s believers are unwilling to take. We have been deceived by Satan into thinking that we can serve God and live as we please, but there is no reward for those who are not willing to be modern-day Matthews.
“But I, the LORD, search all hearts and examine secret motives. I give all people their due rewards, according to what their actions deserve.” (Jeremiah 17:10, NLT). Jesus discerned the Tax Collector’s heart, knowing that Matthew was ready to embrace righteousness; Jesus extended the invitation, “Follow Me.”
Matthew’s decision to follow Christ did not happen at the time he received Jesus’ invitation. From previously hearing about Christ, Matthew used his faith to believe, which invited the Holy Spirit to perform immediate Heart Conversion when Jesus said, “Follow Me.” [In Genesis chapter 1, the Scriptures mention that God, the Holy Spirit, was present with God, the Father, and God, Jesus, the Son.]
Despite the hardships of rejection and hardships that all followers of Christ must endure, Matthew was 100% committed to love and obey God, love others, renounce his former sinful habits and lifestyle, and remain loyal to Jesus Christ, the Messiah.
As one of the twelve apostles, Matthew traveled with Jesus for three years [the duration of Christ’s earthly ministry]. Spending time with Christ every day resulted in a complete spiritual transformation of his mind, character, and personality into the likeness of Christ.
The apostle Matthew proves that, despite our past, dedicating oneself to following Jesus results in a new heart overflowing with love, faith, obedience, and loyalty to Jesus Christ. Every day that we consecrate ourselves to faithfully follow and obey Jesus invites the Holy Spirit to perform the life-transforming spiritual process of Sanctification.
“The wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.” (Revelation 21:14, NIV).
Not only will eleven of the twelve men [Jesus’ original disciples], and Matthias who replaced Judas, receive Eternal Life when our Triumphant King comes again, they will also have their names inscribed on the foundations of the New Jerusalem.
Righteousness by Faith: Our greatest desire should be to follow Jesus with love, loyalty, and faithful obedience. We only have one opportunity to become faithful followers, and that is in our earthly lives. Only those who are willing to let go of every desire, pleasure, and material treasure to follow their Savior and Shepherd will receive the Crown of Life. Yes and Amen!
Bible Study: Matthew 9, Revelation 21-22
Prayer: Lord God, create in us a clean heart and renew a steadfast spirit within us. We ask You to turn our eyes away from worthless things, so like Matthew, we are willing to follow You wherever You lead us. We ask this prayer in the Powerful Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Christ Defines His Followers: “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.” (1 Peter 2:9). Yes, this is our identity in Christ!
“Jesus did not tell His disciples, ‘Strive to make your light shine;’ He said, ‘Let it shine.’ If Christ is dwelling in the heart, it is impossible to conceal the light of His presence.”
In a world plagued with darkness, Christ has given us a spiritual assignment to fulfill: Witnessing to those who do not know Jesus’ Light, His Love, and His Sacrifice to Redeem us from the vice-grip of sin.
“And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, ‘All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.’ Amen.” (Matthew 28:18-20).
Every believer is a follower of Christ, which makes us disciples of Christ. We may not literally baptize others, but from witnessing, we invite the Holy Spirit to speak to the hearts of those who we simply tell, “Jesus loves you.”
Although some individuals may not respond, or even reject hearing that Jesus loves them, we have fulfilled our role, and then the Holy Spirit will take over. Still, they must choose to accept or reject Jesus and the free gift of Salvation.
There is an extreme shortage of love in our present world. People need to know they are loved. When they repent and accept Christ, the Holy Spirit baptizes them spiritually, cleansing their hearts from all unrighteousness.
“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.” (Revelation 3:20). This Scripture means that Jesus knocks at our hearts through the power of the Holy Spirit. Saying yes, opens the spiritual door.
We may never know who accepts Christ until we go to heaven, yet because we fulfilled our part as modern-day disciples, we will meet those who said yes to Jesus after we shared the love of Jesus with them.
Something is not right if we have no desire to witness: “If those who profess to be followers of Christ are not the light of the world, it is because the vital power has left them; if they have no light to give, it is because they have no connection with [Christ] the Source of Light.”
Excerpt from “The Light of the World” Devotional by EGW
“As the rays of the sun penetrate to the remotest corners of the globe, so God designs that the light of the gospel shall extend to every soul upon the earth. If the church of Christ were fulfilling the purpose of our Lord, light would be shed upon all that sit in darkness and in the region and shadow of death.”
“Instead of congregating together and shunning responsibility and cross bearing, the members of the church would scatter into all lands, letting the light of Christ shine out from them, working as He did for the salvation of souls, and this ‘gospel of the kingdom’ would speedily be carried to all the world.”
“…there are souls enslaved by Satan; they are waiting for the word of faith and prayer to set them free.”
Who will tell them if we refuse?
We come across people everyday who are anxious, depressed, discouraged, and feel hopeless. They desperately need to know that Jesus saves and delivers us from the strongholds of sin, addictions, and despair.
With courage, we can tell everyone that we come across, “Jesus loves you.” Yes and Amen!
Lord God, in humility and surrender, we bow before your Throne asking for strength to live righteously. We ask for guidance from the Holy Spirit as we tell others of the Love and Saving Power of Jesus Christ. Teach us how to be shining lights that reflect Your love, grace, and mercy in a dark world. We pray for wisdom, discernment, and the courage to witness as we prepare for Your Soon Coming. We ask this prayer in the Righteous Name of King Jesus, Amen.
Sheep have a unique attribute, they always follow their Shepherd. Unless we surrender ourselves every day, asking God to reveal His plan, we are not part of Jesus’ spiritual flock.
“Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?” (Luke 6:46, NIV). True heart conversion is demonstrated by worshiping God in spirit and in truth. Faithful Followers live Faith-based, Christ-centered lives.
Christ in His earthly life said, “The Father is with Me because I always do what pleases Him.” Unless we ask God to reveal His plans for the given day of mercies, we are lost sheep.
Without Faithful Obedience, we are not following Christ on the Path of Righteousness. Humility and surrender are the character traits of those who truly love their Shepherd.
There will be no reward for following our thoughts and plans. Jesus reminds us that He knows His Sheep because they always follow Him. Repent and Obey. The King is Coming Sooner than we think!
Lord God, we pray for those who are deceived by thinking they can pursue their desires, and still receive the reward of eternal life. As Biblical prophecies are being fulfilled, we pray for a revival of holiness within our hearts. In Jesus’ Righteous Name we pray, Amen.
Wanted: Disciples Who Will “Follow Me” Devotional Reading and Podcast
“As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, ‘Follow me.’ And he rose and followed him.” (Matthew 9:9)
Matthew was of Jewish descent but worked for the Roman government as a tax collector. He was despised by the other Jews because of his habit of overcharging and oppressing those whom he collected taxes from. Yet, Jesus knew there was something in Matthew’s heart that yearned to know the truth. Jesus gave the command, “Follow me” [that has the option to say no] to Matthew and he followed.
Matthew walked away from his life to obey Christ and become a disciple including his financially lucrative position. He chose the Kingdom of God over money. Yes, Matthew gave up everything to follow Christ.
In the Scriptures, there are examples of others that Jesus called, the rich, young ruler, and the man who was in mourning for the death of a family member who chose not to follow Jesus. They were unable to become disciples because of their love for traditional beliefs and worldly possessions. Denial reveals their earthly priorities. Like many today who desire to serve God, yet, they are unwilling to give up all that is required to become one of Christ’s disciples.
Jesus says, “Follow Me” but the unspoken words “Not by Force” is understood by the fact that we were created with the free will of choice. Many will accept Christ as their personal Savior, but they do not desire to be a faithful and obedient disciple. Satan has deceived many Christians into thinking that we can develop the description of discipleship.
When an individual applies for a position the company’s advertisement must include a job description. The interviewer provides a breakdown of the duties required for the position. An experienced job-seeker is aware that the flexibility of the position is minimal. Usually, there are only a couple of negotiable areas, the starting salary and the work hours.
“And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, ‘If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.’ ” (Mark 8:34)
Every person who accepts Christ as their personal Savior has the job description of being a full-time disciple. The difference between the employer’s job description and Jesus’ disciple, we are accountable to God 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Christians follow Christ–we move in the same direction and obey God’s will and plans.
Disciple’s Job Description: We are called to love and lead people to Christ. “And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, ‘All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.’ Amen” (Matthew 28:18-20).
The Mindset and Behaviors of a Disciple–
True Disciples Follow Jesus, the Leader Faithful, Obedient, and Live a Sacrificial Life Called to leave everyone and everything Prioritize by always having Jesus first
“There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work” (1 Corinthians 12:4-6).
We receive the discernment and power to use our spiritual gifts from the Holy Spirit. Not everyone has the same gifts. Whether we are part of an Outreach Ministry in our church or have been directed to use our gifts in other ways, God never leaves us guessing about our role in discipleship. Praying and studying the Bible are the ways that we receive spiritual nourishment and God’s guidance.
God knows that most have secular jobs that require at least 40 hours a week. Even so, we are always required to put God first. Our godly lifestyle, our behaviors of demonstrating love and kindness, and the gentle tone of our spoken words portray the love of Christ which are non-verbal ways of witnessing.
God has allowed humanity to make advancements in technology for the advancement of the Gospel of Salvation. We can use our time to post an encouraging Scripture or make a video witnessing the love of Jesus every day on social media. Yet, we also have the responsibility to “Go!” We can volunteer at a food pantry or homeless shelter once a week. When at the store, we can easily say, God loves you. The diverse ways to use our gifts are endless.
“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” (Matthew 6:33).
We are accountable to God for how we used or wasted our talents [spiritual gifts] and our time. In reading Matthew chapter 25, verses 31 to 46, Jesus separates the sheep from the goats. The goats are also Christians who did not perform their duties of discipleship during their lifetime on earth.
“Then they also will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?’ Then He will answer them, saying, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’ And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life” (Matthew 25:44-46).
“And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to everyone according to his work (Revelation 22:12).
When Jesus comes, His reward is not based on weekly church attendance or tithe and offerings. Daily study of the Bible is to be utilized for spiritual growth and for sharing Scriptures with others. We have neighbors who know nothing about Jesus. It is our work as a disciple, the time we spent witnessing and caring for others that Jesus will reward.
Who will tell them? We are called to lead people to Jesus, the Savior of the world. Our commitment to Christ is all or nothing. Remember, it is the non-negotiable duty of all disciples to follow in the footsteps of Christ.
Prayer: God, we pray for forgiveness for not fulfilling our role as a disciple. We ask for the anointing of the Holy Spirit and the boldness to tell others about Jesus. Give us guidance and direction to use our spiritual gifts for Your honor and glory. In Jesus’ Worthy Name, we pray. Amen.
“The New Rich” is a term coined by Tim Ferris in his book “The 4-Hour Work Week,” written in 2014. His concept received much opposition. Yes, escaping the job that you detested by starting a position that the world will love sounds ideal. Even so, the behaviors of a target audience for your business are unpredictable. Why? Nothing lasts forever! People are fickle. What they desire today will quickly be forgotten sooner than later. Consumers have made Amazon a super-power because of convenience, not due to loyalty.
2021 Update: Now enter a group of wealthy young men with sound minds who have repurposed this phrase. They are proud of their accomplishment: Living a simple lifestyle has given them the status of being “Debt-free.” Yes, they live without worries because their money is exclusively used for necessities and to travel the world. Sounds enticing. Who doesn’t desire to live this lifestyle?
Let’s analyze this “New Rich” concept of minimalistic living. Romans 13, verse 8 tells us, “Owe nothing to anyone…” So, their idea of living debt-free is excellent. But the remainder of verse 8 reads, “–except for your obligation to love one another. If you love your neighbor, you will fulfill the requirements of God’s law.” The “New Rich” issue is that they possess the mindset of self-reliance and selfishness that define the prosperous [prosperity] worldview.
And as He walked by the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. Then Jesus said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” They immediately left their nets and followed Him. Mark 1:16-18
Compared to our standards of financial comfortability, Jesus and His disciples lived in poverty. And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.” Matthew 8:20. Thankfully, God does not require us to live without our necessities–Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. Matthew 6:33
The life of a believer is to serve Jesus Christ as a disciple–to serve God and our brothers and sisters in need, whether it be spiritually and financially. When Jesus called the twelve disciples they gave up everything to follow Him. Enter the disciples of 2021, and our mindset is comparable to the New Rich, except that most of us are in debt, well beyond the costs of our necessities. Yes, the prosperity messages draw people into mega-churches, but the emptiness that accompanies the pursuit of happiness has left us with a generation of anxious, worried, and depressed Christians.
We desire material possessions and wealth because our priorities are unequally yoked with godly stewardship principles. If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need but shows no compassion—how can God’s love be in that person? 1 John 3:17. Everything that we have belongs to God. Our overabundance is not given to show-off our social or financial status or to build massive bank accounts and investments. He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God? Micah 6:8
What does Jesus require of his Kingdom of God disciples?
37 “Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? 39 When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ 40 “And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!'” 45 “And he will answer, ‘I tell you the truth, when you refused to help the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were refusing to help me.'” Matthew 25:37-40, 45
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