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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.\u00a0 It can also mean emulating someone else by doing things in the same way that person does things.\u00a0 As believers, Christ is calling us to follow Him.\u00a0 Therefore following Christ entails living by God\u2019s standards and being led by the Holy Spirit.\u00a0 Following Christ requires having a closer walk with Him and this must be a consistent one.\u00a0 When Jesus lived here on earth, He encountered many challenges but in all of them He came out victorious.\u00a0 Anyone that follows Christ consistently without looking back will also pass through this world victoriously.\u00a0 Jesus is saying to all who are willing to follow Him, \u201cI am the light of the world:\u00a0 he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness but shall have the light of life\u201d, John 8:12.\u00a0 Following Christ therefore is the only way we can have a closer walk with God.<\/p>\n
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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.<\/p>\n
We must be ready to follow the Master without questioning or trying to reason out the sense behind the instruction through human wisdom.\u00a0 Likewise, when Abram was instructed by God to leave his country, kindred and father\u2019s house to a place he was to be shown, Abram left without questioning, Genesis 12:1-8.\u00a0 \u201cBy 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\u201d, Hebrews 11:8.<\/p>\n
The implication of the article \u201cand\u201d 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.\u00a0 We must first of all be ready to deny ourselves and take up our cross daily.\u00a0 It is only after we have done this that we can follow Christ.\u00a0 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.<\/p>\n
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Some people, rather than following Christ have resorted to following other people and things.\u00a0 Some have made men\u00a0 their focus and are under the whims and caprices of these mere mortals.\u00a0 Some may be following their parents, their mentors, their so called role models or even their pastors, bishops or overseers instead of Christ.\u00a0 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.\u00a0 Apostle Paul rightly admonished the Corinthian brethren as follows, \u201cPattern yourselves after me [follow my example] as I imitate and follow Christ (the Messiah)\u201d, 1 Corinthians 11:1 amplified.\u00a0 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.<\/p>\n
There are other things people follow today instead of Christ.\u00a0 These may include their wealth, beauty, family name and connection, social status, educational qualification, etc.\u00a0 Others can be in the form of charms prepared by native doctors, membership of secret cults and fraternities.\u00a0 Some may be following the pronouncements of astrologers and such other mediums of soothsaying and fortune telling.\u00a0 All these will surely fail because there is no truth in them.\u00a0 The blind cannot lead the blind else both of them will fall into a ditch.<\/p>\n
It should be noted that following all these things that are temporal and ephemeral can never guarantee our future in God.\u00a0 Jesus said, \u201cbecause I live ye shall live also\u201d, John 14:19.\u00a0 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.\u00a0 \u201cNow 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\u201d, 1 Corinthians 2:12.<\/p>\n
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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.\u00a0 Jesus is the author and finisher of our faith.\u00a0 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.\u00a0 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, \u201cFor 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\u201d, Hebrews 4:15.\u00a0 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.\u00a0 The book of Jude v 24 says, \u201cNow unto Him that is able to keep you from falling and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy\u201d. \u00a0Moreover, Christ is God\u2019s beloved Son in whom He (God) is well pleased.\u00a0 God instructs us, \u201chear ye him\u201d.\u00a0 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. \u201cWherefore 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\u201d, Hebrews 7:25.<\/p>\n
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There are various character traits observable in the life of a person who is following Christ.\u00a0 Some of these are briefly discussed below:<\/p>\n
–Holy Living, 1 Peter 1:15-16<\/span>.\u00a0 Our God is a Holy God so we cannot say we are following Christ if we are living in sin.\u00a0 Habakkuk 1:13 has this to say about our Heavenly Father, \u201cthou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity\u201d.\u00a0 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; \u201cBut 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\u201d.\u00a0 Holy living is a critical feature that must be seen in the life of a person following Christ.<\/p>\n –Willingness to Endure Suffering, 1 Peter 2:21-23<\/span>.\u00a0\u00a0 As followers of Christ, we must be willing and ready to suffer persecution for the sake of our Lord, Savior and Master Jesus Christ.\u00a0 \u201cFor even hereunto where ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us and example, that ye should follow His steps\u201d, 1 Peter 2:21.\u00a0 We must endure and remain resolute in following Christ, realizing that He has promised that He will never leave us nor forsake us.<\/p>\n –Humility, Philippians 2:5-8<\/span>.\u00a0 Humility is another character trait that is very necessary in the life of the person that is following Christ.\u00a0 Jesus Christ who is our perfect example was very humble to the extent of dying on the cross.\u00a0 The Amplified Version of the Bible put Philippians 2:5 like this, \u201cLet this same attitude and purpose and [humble] mind be in you which was in Christ Jesus: [Let Him be your example in humility]\u201d.\u00a0 Moreover the Scripture has told us in 1 Peter 5:5-6 that our God resists the proud and gives grace to the humble.<\/p>\n –Being Watchful and Prayerful, Matthew 26:41; Ephesians 6:18<\/span>.\u00a0 Jesus gave a parable in Luke 18:1 \u201cto this end that men ought always to pray and not to faint\u201d.\u00a0 Any one determined to follow Christ must be watchful and at the same time prayerful.\u00a0 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.\u00a0 A watchful and prayerful disciple of Christ will always live a victorious Christian life as long as he remains focused.\u00a0 The apostle Paul also recognized this fact when he wrote, \u201cPraying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints\u201d, Ephesians 6:18<\/p>\n –Obedience to the Holy Spirit<\/span>.\u00a0 One of the character traits of one that is following Christ is absolute obedience to the Holy Spirit.\u00a0 He must allow himself to be constantly led and controlled by the Holy Spirit.\u00a0 He must learn to listen and obey the Holy Spirit.\u00a0 No one can follow Christ effectively by his own power, that is why Jesus said in John 6:63, \u201cIt is the Spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing\u201d.\u00a0 The Holy Spirit has been sent to the believer to guide and help him in his journey here on earth.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 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. \u00a0Jesus is the author and finisher of our faith.\u00a0 We cannot go through this our pilgrimage here on earth successfully without \u00a0being focused on Him who is the Way, the Truth and the Life.\u00a0 Following Christ guarantees us not missing the way to the Father.\u00a0 Jesus passed through the earth and experienced all the challenges that we are experiencing and even those we are yet to experience.\u00a0 \u201cFor in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, He is able to succor them that are tempted\u201d, Hebrews 2:18.\u00a0 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.\u00a0 He has promised that He will never leave us nor forsake us.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 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.\u00a0 This is the only pathway to becoming like Him.\u00a0 Following Christ means forsaking all that will hinder one from getting to heaven and sharing eternity with God.\u00a0 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.\u00a0 \u201cFor even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us and example, that ye should follow His steps.\u201d, 1 Peter 2:21.\u00a0 We must therefore be practical followers of Jesus Christ.\u00a0 May you be determined to follow Jesus to the end.\u00a0 Amen.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Luke 9:23 \u2013 \u201cAnd 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.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Following Christ Central Thought: \u00a0Following 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.\u00a0 It can also […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-581","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-sundayschool"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mzgtiglobal.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/581","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mzgtiglobal.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mzgtiglobal.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mzgtiglobal.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mzgtiglobal.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=581"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/mzgtiglobal.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/581\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":590,"href":"https:\/\/mzgtiglobal.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/581\/revisions\/590"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mzgtiglobal.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=581"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mzgtiglobal.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=581"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mzgtiglobal.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=581"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}5. Highlight the importance of following Christ daily in our Christian walk.<\/h5>\n
Daily Living Application:<\/h3>\n
Memory Verse:<\/h3>\n