*EXCELLENT LIFE KEYS* 🔑🗝️
Thu/21st/April/2022
*Francis Reign* (Ap & Coach)
_"Raising excellent agents of change and transformation, well equipped with Truth and Wisdom."_
*UNDERSTANDING THE ACTS AND WORDS OF JESUS CHRIST (86)*
_And 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_ (Matt 9:9). "Follow Me." Those two words together form a command found about thirteen times in the Gospels. The words mean immediate detachment from personal interests and attachment to Christ. Implied in the call of Jesus was a turning from sin to Him in order to be saved. Even after Jesus had risen from the dead, while the disciples were on a fishing trip, Jesus said to Peter, "Follow Me!"(John 21:19). There are many references to individuals following Jesus. But these words were not just for the twelve disciples; they are also for us today. Discipleship means following Jesus in a personal way. "Follow Me" is a call to obedience. It is not mere invitation, but an imperative command. Those who heard the words of Jesus immediately left everything to follow Him. It was a costly decision to make, but very profitable at the same time.
Who are you following? Are you following Jesus or some other religious teacher? Are you following Jesus in obedience to His teaching? The call to follow means we will submit to His Lordship. It is an act of simple trust. It is impossible to follow Him without trusting in Him. Indeed, when Jesus bids a man come and follow Me, He bids him "Come and die." You cannot follow Jesus effectively without dying to self. For He says in Matthew 16:24-25, _"If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny self, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life shall lose it: but whoever loses his life for My sake shall find it."_ Jesus extended an invitation to follow to every single kind of person imaginable - rich, poor, spiritual, religious, sinners, illiterate, educated, lame, whole - He didn't place a bunch of conditions on His offer. He just invited them to follow. Come as you are, and Jesus will make you a wonder to generations.
*EXCELLENCE KEY*🗝️
_When Jesus bids a man "Come and follow Me," He bids him "come and die." For you cannot follow Jesus effectively without dying to self._
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*Excellence is within you. Bring it out >>*
#1458 ELK.
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