Following Christ
Central Thought: Following the footsteps of Jesus the pathway to becoming like Him.
Text: Luke 9:18-25; Ephesians 4:17-30
To follow implies walking closely behind someone who knows the way in order to have a sense of direction as to where one is heading to. It can also mean emulating someone else by doing things in the same way that person does things. As believers, Christ is calling us to follow Him. Therefore following Christ entails living by God’s standards and being led by the Holy Spirit. Following Christ requires having a closer walk with Him and this must be a consistent one. When Jesus lived here on earth, He encountered many challenges but in all of them He came out victorious. Anyone that follows Christ consistently without looking back will also pass through this world victoriously. Jesus is saying to all who are willing to follow Him, “I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness but shall have the light of life”, John 8:12. Following Christ therefore is the only way we can have a closer walk with God.
1. What is the meaning of the phrase “AND FOLLOW ME”? Luke 9:23
To follow implies walking closely behind someone who knows the way in order to have a sense of direction as to where one is heading to.
We must be ready to follow the Master without questioning or trying to reason out the sense behind the instruction through human wisdom. Likewise, when Abram was instructed by God to leave his country, kindred and father’s house to a place he was to be shown, Abram left without questioning, Genesis 12:1-8. “By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went”, Hebrews 11:8.
The implication of the article “and” in the phrase is that before we follow Christ, we must be ready and willing to forsake all that will hinder us or slow us down in following. We must first of all be ready to deny ourselves and take up our cross daily. It is only after we have done this that we can follow Christ. This implies giving up worldly desires and everything that does not glorify God in our lives and then focusing on Christ alone, who is the author and finisher of our faith.
2. Who/What do some people follow today instead of Christ?
Some people, rather than following Christ have resorted to following other people and things. Some have made men their focus and are under the whims and caprices of these mere mortals. Some may be following their parents, their mentors, their so called role models or even their pastors, bishops or overseers instead of Christ. It does not matter how religious these people may be, or whatever title they may be known by, if they do not point Christ to you to follow, then you have missed it. Apostle Paul rightly admonished the Corinthian brethren as follows, “Pattern yourselves after me [follow my example] as I imitate and follow Christ (the Messiah)”, 1 Corinthians 11:1 amplified. Believers must be careful so that no one makes a merchandise of them in the guise of Christianity pointing them to Christ while this may be a cover up for their hidden evil agenda aimed at leading people astray.
There are other things people follow today instead of Christ. These may include their wealth, beauty, family name and connection, social status, educational qualification, etc. Others can be in the form of charms prepared by native doctors, membership of secret cults and fraternities. Some may be following the pronouncements of astrologers and such other mediums of soothsaying and fortune telling. All these will surely fail because there is no truth in them. The blind cannot lead the blind else both of them will fall into a ditch.
It should be noted that following all these things that are temporal and ephemeral can never guarantee our future in God. Jesus said, “because I live ye shall live also”, John 14:19. It is only by following Christ and by the leading of the Holy Spirit that we can be assured of life and access to the things that have been freely given to us by God. “Now we have received not the spirit of this world but the spirit which is of God; that we may know the things that are freely given to us by God”, 1 Corinthians 2:12.
3. Who should the disciple focus on and why? Luke 9:23; Hebrews 12:1-3; Matthew 17:1-5
Any believer who regards himself or herself as a true disciple must focus on Christ in order to run this Christian race successfully and effectively without stumbling along the way. Jesus is the author and finisher of our faith. He has asked us to follow Him and it is only by doing so that we will be guided and guarded in our lives as pilgrims on earth. There is nothing that we will encounter as we move along in this our journey that Christ did not experience when He was here on earth, “For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feelings of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin”, Hebrews 4:15. Therefore, it is imperative that we focus on Christ; it is only then that we can be rest assured that He will keep us from falling. The book of Jude v 24 says, “Now unto Him that is able to keep you from falling and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy”. Moreover, Christ is God’s beloved Son in whom He (God) is well pleased. God instructs us, “hear ye him”. Focusing on Christ therefore is the only way we can successfully follow Him, being fully dependent on Him as our source of strength and help even in times of weakness. “Wherefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them”, Hebrews 7:25.
4. Identify some of the character traits observable in the life of a person who is following Christ. 1 Peter 1:15-16, 2:21-23; Philippians 2:5-8
There are various character traits observable in the life of a person who is following Christ. Some of these are briefly discussed below:
–Holy Living, 1 Peter 1:15-16. Our God is a Holy God so we cannot say we are following Christ if we are living in sin. Habakkuk 1:13 has this to say about our Heavenly Father, “thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity”. As a result of the holy nature of this God with whom we to do, in 1 Peter 1:15-16 we are admonished thus; “But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy”. Holy living is a critical feature that must be seen in the life of a person following Christ.
–Willingness to Endure Suffering, 1 Peter 2:21-23. As followers of Christ, we must be willing and ready to suffer persecution for the sake of our Lord, Savior and Master Jesus Christ. “For even hereunto where ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us and example, that ye should follow His steps”, 1 Peter 2:21. We must endure and remain resolute in following Christ, realizing that He has promised that He will never leave us nor forsake us.
–Humility, Philippians 2:5-8. Humility is another character trait that is very necessary in the life of the person that is following Christ. Jesus Christ who is our perfect example was very humble to the extent of dying on the cross. The Amplified Version of the Bible put Philippians 2:5 like this, “Let this same attitude and purpose and [humble] mind be in you which was in Christ Jesus: [Let Him be your example in humility]”. Moreover the Scripture has told us in 1 Peter 5:5-6 that our God resists the proud and gives grace to the humble.
–Being Watchful and Prayerful, Matthew 26:41; Ephesians 6:18. Jesus gave a parable in Luke 18:1 “to this end that men ought always to pray and not to faint”. Any one determined to follow Christ must be watchful and at the same time prayerful. At the time of His agony in the garden of Gethsemane, Jesus told His disciples to watch and pray that they enter not into temptation. A watchful and prayerful disciple of Christ will always live a victorious Christian life as long as he remains focused. The apostle Paul also recognized this fact when he wrote, “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints”, Ephesians 6:18
–Obedience to the Holy Spirit. One of the character traits of one that is following Christ is absolute obedience to the Holy Spirit. He must allow himself to be constantly led and controlled by the Holy Spirit. He must learn to listen and obey the Holy Spirit. No one can follow Christ effectively by his own power, that is why Jesus said in John 6:63, “It is the Spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing”. The Holy Spirit has been sent to the believer to guide and help him in his journey here on earth.
5. Highlight the importance of following Christ daily in our Christian walk.
Following Christ daily in our Christian walk is not only important but very necessary if we must live to please God in all areas of our life. Jesus is the author and finisher of our faith. We cannot go through this our pilgrimage here on earth successfully without being focused on Him who is the Way, the Truth and the Life. Following Christ guarantees us not missing the way to the Father. Jesus passed through the earth and experienced all the challenges that we are experiencing and even those we are yet to experience. “For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, He is able to succor them that are tempted”, Hebrews 2:18. Therefore, following Jesus Christ daily in our Christian walk, is the only sure way to live successfully here on earth and thereafter be with Him in eternity. He has promised that He will never leave us nor forsake us.
Daily Living Application:
For every disciple of Christ to successfully live a victorious Christian life, he must be ready to deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Christ. This is the only pathway to becoming like Him. Following Christ means forsaking all that will hinder one from getting to heaven and sharing eternity with God. We must be ready therefore to lay aside every weight and sin that doth so easily beset us and run with patience the race that is set before us looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith. “For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us and example, that ye should follow His steps.”, 1 Peter 2:21. We must therefore be practical followers of Jesus Christ. May you be determined to follow Jesus to the end. Amen.
Memory Verse:
Luke 9:23 – “And he said to them all, if any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.”