Follow Him

January 16, 2021

I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.

~Galatians 2:20~

Understanding the crucifixion that Jesus endured brings us closer to the gospel itself. We know the story of how He did it but do we know how to do it ourselves? What I mean is when we accept Jesus into our lives it is accepting a completely new life all together. The old one we lived involved sin and worldly desires. The new life involves sacrificing for others and kingdom desires. Paul knew what he needed to do as he came to follow Jesus. He had an assignment right away that Jesus gave him. To be completely new. The old man was dead, to the point where he even received a new name; from Saul to Paul. The Lord gave Paul a complete understanding of who He was and how Paul was to represent himself as His servant. Paul surrendered immediately; "So he, trembling and astonished, said, “Lord, what do You want me to do?” Then the Lord said to him, “Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” (Acts 9:6)

Paul never knew Jesus before he had this experience. The glory of this moment immediately brought him to his knees for Christ asking what He needed from him. Jesus says to go into the city and wait for further instruction. Paul was immediately led by the Holy Spirit.

I have always had a strong personal connection to Paul's story myself since the moment I received Christ into my life. Don't get me wrong, I wasn't killing anyone, however, I wanted to. I was so full of hate and despair. Oppressed by evil spirits and done with the world and with people. The Lord came to me one night and I had an amazing supernatural encounter where I found myself, like Paul, instantly knowing the Lord. He delivered me in one single moment; many things I had held onto all my life were gone in the blink of an eye and immediately convicted me of all I needed to change. I instantly felt healed and different! This is the true following of Christ. The old me was completely dead. I didn't recognize who I just became, but I learned rather quickly thanks to the Holy Spirit showing me. I immediately felt the urge to serve Him and His people. For the first time in my life I truely loved people. I wanted to show them who Jesus was. Just like Paul. Im not going to lie, crucifying my flesh was not easy. I lost things, I gave up things, I felt rejection and I was tested heavily by the devil. When you truely say to the Lord, "I want You to take my life," you will find yourself being molded in such a way that can be rather painful. Paul suffered much things as he went about preaching the gospel and helping those in bondage. He had to give up a lot of his own desires to fulfill the Lord's will. He put himself to death and became a new man. The image of Christ Himself. We are to live the gospel as He lived. "and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together."

(Romans 8:17)

Jesus was glorified after He had suffered and took up the cross that should of been ours. However, we still have crosses to bear. The christian life will not be completely comfortable. Jesus did not live a comfortable life. He came to serve, suffer, die and rise to continue to guide us in this life. We have a part to play now if we truely want to follow Him. To Peter and Andrew, Jesus said "follow Me". To the tax collector, Jesus said "follow Me". To Phillip, Jesus said "follow Me." To the accusers of the adulteress woman, Jesus says "follow Me." To the rest of us, Jesus says "follow Me."

All of the disciples of the Lord who continued to preach the gospel suffered much persecution, pain and was eventually martyered. Just as Christ took up His cross, these men took up theirs and followed Him completely; " My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me."(John 10:27)

We are not of this world, so we are to not live of this world. If we conformed to the world we would not bring others to truely know Jesus and His kingdom. We must represent Him fully. This means we must crucify ourselves completely, which will hurt. It is not God's job to offer us up to be crucified in our flesh. It is our willingness and love for Jesus to offer ourselves to be crucified with Him; "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service."

(Romans 12:1)

When He hung on the cross, He hung for us. He offered Himself up for us willingly, the Father did not force Him to. When we come to Him we should be willing to hang for Him, just like His apostles did. We can say we love Him all we want but if our actions show otherwise that says it all. "My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth." (I John 3:18)

Paul showed his love for the Lord by serving Him to the very end of his life and suffered much in the process. He set aside his desires completely and was led where to go and what to do by the Holy Spirit. Just as Jesus did for us.

"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith."

(II Timothy 4:7)

Let us strive to crucify ourselves, set aside our own desires and love the Lord with our whole heart, soul and strength. The glory will follow!

Prayer:

Father God, thank you for Your sweet Son, who endured to the very end His complete calling, for me to live in this life. As I come to know Him more each day I strive to fully follow Him as Paul did. I am not my own, my body is Yours. My spirit is Yours. My soul is Yours. Lord guide my steps, direct my way and teach me how to fully crucify my flesh with You. No matter how painful it may be I receive all that You have for me. As I walk in faith I know You will bring me from Glory to Glory. Lead me in the way of everlasting and fill me with Your divine strength and understanding. I owe myself to You, Lord. I pray for the clarity in my mind of what You need of me to do today. May every devil in hell cringe as I walk in Your power and authority. Praise be to You for Your precious blood that covers me and empowers me to show the gospel to a broken world. In Your Name in which I follow, Jesus Christ. Ame