A Reflection On Following Jesus

When I want to grow in discipleship

Following Jesus is not about living a religion; it’s about knowing a living Person. He didn’t just leave us a legacy of teachings, He left us Himself. We don’t get our marching orders from Him and then proceed to live the Christian life without Him. We don’t observe and applaud His words and His works from a distance without getting into the game ourselves. We don’t base our discipleship on our feelings, which come and go as often as the wind changes direction. We follow.

The promise of discipleship is that we are not alone in our obedience. We are following a Person. We can talk with Him, cry with Him, listen to Him, and work with Him. Unlike many religions that teach their adherents a set of principles and then send them out to live those principles, the living Jesus is with us as He teaches us. We should have principles, feelings, curiosity, and reasons, but we do not base our lives on any of these alone. We follow Him.

“Follow me and be my disciple,” Jesus said.

Luke 5:27