Following Christ

[Albert Finch]

Matthew 4:25,5:1,2 - And there followed Him great multitudes of people from Galilee and from Decapolis, and from Jerusalem, and from Judea, and from beyond Jordan. And seeing the multitudes, He went up into a mountain: and when He was set, His disciples came unto him: and He opened His mouth and taught them.

THESE LOCAL COMMUNITIES LEFT ALL WHEN THEY HEARD JESUS WAS NEAR. WITHOUT FORETHOUGHT, WITHOUT PACKING A DONKEY, WITHOUT SO MUCH AS TAKING EXTRA FOOD OR TELLING THOSE WHO REMAINED AT HOME WHEN TO EXPECT THEM, THOUSANDS OF MEN, WOMEN, AND CHILDREN SPONTANEOUSLY FOLLOWED CHRIST TO A DESOLATE PLACE.

BUT WE READ OF NO ONE COMPLAINING THAT THE "SERVICE WAS TOO LONG," OR "THE WEATHER TOO HOT," OR "THE MESSAGE WAS BORING." WHATEVER THEY LACKED IN COMFORT AND CONVENIENCE WAS OVERSHADOWED BY THE GLORY OF BEING WITH JESUS!

PEOPLE SAW IN JESUS MEEKNESS, UNLIMITED POWER AND PERFECT LOVE. IF WE WOULD WIN SOULS, PEOPLE MUST SEE IN US THIS SAME JESUS.


2 Corinthians 5:17 - If any man is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.

EVERYTHING, EVEN OUR INTELLIGENCE AND PHYSICAL APPEARANCE, IS NOW SUBJECT TO CHANGE FOR THE BETTER. OLD FAILURES, PREJUDICES, AND ATTITUDES ARE DESTINED TO GO.

NEW FAITH AND HOPE SHOULD BE GROWING WITHIN US DAILY.

HOW DO I ATTAIN SUCH A WONDERFUL NEW BEGINNING?

I RECEIVE THE SPIRIT OF CHRIST INTO MY HEART TO EMPOWER ME AND I STUDY THE WORDS OF CHRIST TO DIRECT ME. WHATEVER I FIND IN ME THAT IS NOT LIKE JESUS, - I CRUCIFY.