I Have Decided to Follow Jesus

Every morning as I make the bed

I love to sing the beautiful Hymn 

"I have decided to follow Jesus."

I have made this a practice for many years now,

and since I make the bed first thing in the morning

singing the words to this hymn saturates 

my heart and mind for the remainder of the day.

I find the words of this hymn challenging 

in my walk with the Lord,

for the desire of my heart is to

"take up my cross and follow Jesus." (Matthew 10:38)

 ~~~**~~~

If we so desire to "follow" Jesus we must 

forsake (deny) our own agendas in order

to completely comply with God's agenda.

We must not only give up our own agenda but die to it.

We deny self when we surrender ourselves

to Christ and determine to obey His will.

When we live for Christ,

"daily dying to self" we become more like Him.

This is a practiced life, a choice to decide to follow.

~~~**~~~

"I have decided to follow Jesus.

No turning back, no turning back."

Peter says to Jesus in Mark 10:29-31

"See we have left all and followed you."

And Jesus answered and said,

"Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left

house or brothers or sisters or father or mother

or wife or children or lands, for my sake

and the gospel's, who shall not receive a hundredfold

now in this time - houses and brothers and sisters

and mothers and children and lands, 

with persecutions - and in the age to come, eternal life.

But many who are first will be last,

and the last first." 

~~~**~~~

"Tho no one join me, still I will follow.

No turning back, no turning back."

Peter and his fellow apostles left all and followed Jesus.
They obeyed the Masters voice.

Jesus answered Peter in verses 28-31

that God would reward them beyond all

proportion to their supposed sacrifice.

No one who gives up anything to follow

Jesus misses out on anything in the end.
God will reward each one.

~~~**~~~

But... We must be sure our motives are right.

"For whoever desires to save his life will lose it,

but whoever loses his life 

for My sake and the gospel's will save it. (Mark 8:35)

Being great in God's kingdom means:

self denial and sacrificial service.

To lose ourselves is an act of devotion

that should lead us to share the gospel with a lost and hurting world.
God sees things from eternity's perspective.
"But many who are first, will be last,
and the last first."
Those who are first in their own eye's
will be last in God's eye's,
but those who are last in their own eye's
will be rewarded as first. 

May our service be to God and His glory only.

~~~**~~~

"The world behind me, the cross before me.
No turning back, no turning back." 

Jesus also promised that persecutions would come. Mark 10:30

Jesus Himself was persecuted

and as followers, we too will go through persecutions
should we choose to devote ourselves to
Christ and His work for the Kingdom.

But God balances the blessings with the battles,

developing us into mature and gracious daughters of the King.

May we not miss the opportunities God affords us

to make our life count for the Kingdom.

God promises us persecutions (suffering),

but in the end that suffering is transformed into glory.

If we acknowledge Christ and live for Him,

He will one day acknowledge us 

and share His glory with us.

Praise God!

~~~**~~~

~ Questions we can ask ourselves ~

*Are we surrendering ourselves completely to Jesus?

* Are we identifying with Jesus in His suffering and death?

* Are we following Jesus obediently wherever He leads?  
*
I will go where You lead dear Lord,
no turning back ~ no turning back.

~~~**~~~

"I will love Thee O Lord, my strength."
O Precious Heavenly Father,
cause us to fall upon our knees before You,
in total surrender to the work You have called us to do
for Your Kingdom at hand.
May we keep our eye's upon You,
while walking this life of faith in You,
 no looking back, no looking back.
Amen.

Be Blessed
~ Debbie ~