I am grateful for your feedback that our last blog was helpful. Being a Christian means being a Christ-follower. We don’t follow the Lord to earn His salvation and favor. We follow Jesus because He has first saved us by His doing and dying and rising. Because we belong to Him, Christ, by His Holy Spirit, assures us of eternal life and makes us wholeheartedly willing and ready from now on to live for Him. Here some more Scriptures on following Jesus:
1. Matthew 6:33—Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and He will give you everything you need. So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today. (NLT)
Note: All of Matthew chapters 5-7 (Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount) are essential to following Him.
2. Mathew 11:28-30—Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.
Note: Compared to the painful consequences of distrusting and disobeying Christ, trusting and obeying Him is sweet and blessed.
3. Mark 12:30,31—Love the LORD your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. This is the first commandment. And the second, like it, is this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these. (quoting Deut 6:5; Lev 19:18)
4. Luke 9:23-26—Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self? Whoever is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when He comes in His glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.
Christianity is a relationship with Christ, an adventure and passionate pursuit of Jesus. Followers of Christ escape the drudgery of a system of rituals and regulations, and revel in the ever-expanding discovery of our ever-interesting Lord and Savior. (Joseph M. Stowell III)
5. John 8:31-32—If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.
6. John 13:35—Everyone will know that you are my disciples if you love one another.
7. Joshua 1:7-9—Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.
8. Proverbs 3:1-8—My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart, for they will prolong your life many years and bring you peace and prosperity. Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man. Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones.
9. Jeremiah 7:23—Obey me, and I will be your God and you will be my people. Walk in obedience to all I command you, that it may go well with you.
10. 2 Timothy 3:15-17—The Holy Scriptures are able to make us wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, so that we may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
11. Ephesians 4:1-3—Live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.
12. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18—Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
13. Hebrews 12:1-3—…Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the Pioneer and Perfecter of faith. For the joy set before Him He endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider Him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
Note: Christ kept His eyes on His heavenly reward to keep Himself trusting and obeying His Father, who is also our adopting Father. We must do the same.
The Christian life is not applied like make-up to the outside of our personalities, but it is an outgrowth from God’s inner work of transformation in us….The life of sanctification is the life of loving, grateful obedience to Jesus our Lord and Master. (J. A. Motyer)