Jesus was changing many lives as He travelled and His followers were from sorted backgrounds and needs. One thing held them all together and it was Jesus. Jesus was the one on mission and they were on mission with Him. Jesus didn't seek out the wealthiest to underwrite His financial needs, the most powerful to handle the politics, or the fittest to make sure they could physically walk with Him. Jesus was the all in all strength and source of power for the whole mission. The following scripture picks up and lists some who were traveling with Him as He walked from town to town.
Luke 8: 1 Soon afterward Jesus began a tour of the nearby towns and villages, preaching and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom of God. He took his twelve disciples with him, 2 along with some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases. Among them were Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven demons; 3 Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod’s business manager; Susanna; and many others who were contributing from their own resources to support Jesus and his disciples.
What an assortment of followers Jesus chose to follow Him. Not in this list were the others Jesus had called to follow Him and they were of various backgrounds; fishermen, tax collectors, and zealots. When you were born again you became an "active" follower of Jesus Christ and the difference is you are the one on a journey and the Holy Spirit has been given to us to be able to share the message of Jesus wherever "we" go. We could easily add to the scripture above your name as a follower of Jesus and the extent of how you follow Him is writing new words as you walk in your faith.
If my name was added to the verses above it might say David Warren, a man with few talents who has a problem speaking in front of large crowds, but Jesus had compassion for Him and enabled him to go beyond his abilities and took his availability and blessed Him to lead others. That's what has happened to me as I followed the call and followed Jesus. I wouldn't have chosen this path for myself, but Jesus called me and said "David, come follow me" and I said yes, and the rest is history. This past March I started my 43rd year of ministry and if not for God I would have quit long ago. It is not for the faint of heart to give their heart to follow Jesus wherever He calls us to go. Those who are listed throughout the New Testament show signs of faith amid trouble and power amid needs. Jesus continues to supply the strength and even though I fail miserably as His servant He continues to renew me and give me a voice to speak and sing, and a vision for living my life for Him. Oh, God is so good isn't He?
The Apostle Paul wrote this in 1 Corinthians 2:1 When I first came to you, dear brothers and sisters,[a] I didn’t use lofty words and impressive wisdom to tell you God’s secret plan.2 For I decided that while I was with you I would forget everything except Jesus Christ, the one who was crucified. 3 I came to you in weakness—timid and trembling. 4 And my message and my preaching were very plain. Rather than using clever and persuasive speeches, I relied only on the power of the Holy Spirit. 5 I did this so you would trust not in human wisdom but in the power of God. Earlier Paul says this in 1 Corinthians 1:25 This foolish plan of God is wiser than the wisest of human plans, and God’s weakness is stronger than the greatest of human strength.
So what do we do when Jesus calls us? We bow our will and say yes, and the Holy Spirit picks it from there and we follow Jesus and serve Him alone. He becomes or identity and He becomes our very reason for living. When we are filled with the Holy Spirit we receive a power from God that goes beyond what we used to be and gives us a new direction and enables us to become all God wants us to be. Just surrender your will to His and the rest will a glorious history that is filled with glorious adventures that God will take you through. That's what happens when we follow Jesus, and now it is time for you to decide if you will follow Him and live according to the leadership and power of the Holy Spirit. Just give in and follow the call and put your name as one who is following Jesus wherever He may lead. Will you pray and surrender as the prophet Isaiah did in Isaiah 6:8? Then I heard the Lord asking, “Whom should I send as a messenger to this people? Who will go for us?” I said, “Here I am. Send me.”
The Pilgrimage Continues,
David Warren
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