Follow Me

Luke 5:1-11New American Standard Bible (NASB)

The First Disciples

5 Now it happened that while the crowd was pressing around Him and listening to the word of God, He was standing by the lake of Gennesaret; 2 and He saw two boats lying at the edge of the lake; but the fishermen had gotten out of them and were washing their nets. 3 And He got into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, and asked him to put out a little way from the land. And He sat down and began teaching the [a]people from the boat. 4 When He had finished speaking, He said to Simon, “Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch.” 5 Simon answered and said, “Master, we worked hard all night and caught nothing, but [b]I will do as You say and let down the nets.” 6 When they had done this, they enclosed a great quantity of fish, and their nets beganto break; 7 so they signaled to their partners in the other boat for them to come and help them. And they came and filled both of the boats, so that they began to sink. 8 But when Simon Peter saw that, he fell down at Jesus’ [c]feet, saying, “Go away from me Lord, for I am a sinful man!” 9 For amazement had seized him and all his companions because of the catch of fish which they had taken;10 and so also were [d]James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not fear, from now on you will becatching men.” 11 When they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed Him.

I still wonder how the Disciples could follow Jesus in the midst of their business or work. We see that Peter, James and John, sons of Zebedee left their boat and followed Jesus. We see in Matthew, When Jesus calls Matthew, he leaves his work and follows Jesus.

After having a supernatural miracle of getting fish that was so overflowing that they had to call other boats and the nets were about to tare because of the weight that it had. But still they left all and followed Jesus, not considering what worth it could have been. The true happiness in life is not when we get everything, but when we get the right thing at the right time. Here knowing Jesus was their best gift. So they were able to leave the fishes, boats, nets.... Their business for Jesus.

Matthew' life was all about collecting the tax, as he was sitting at the table his heart was not set right at the work, he knew for sure what he was doing was not right. When there came a right time, Jesus knew his heart, called out..."Follow me", Jesus did not say I will make you fishers of men or I knew your heart was not right I will make it right for you. Jesus just said, "follow me".

I wonder what I would have done, when I got such huge number of fish. I would have told, "May be after selling this", "This is what I was looking for, I would like to go one more ride." I mean we have all sorts of business plans when such things happens to us. But this is what Peter and other did, and moreover Jesus never stops Peter' request when he wanted to walk on water, The Father gave the revelation to him to declare that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God. Though he denied Jesus, Jesus still forgave him and gave him an other opportunity, where he was bold to preach the Gospel and finally it is said, that when he was also crucified, he asked them to crucify him upside down. Because he felt unworthy of dying the same way Jesus Christ was crucified.





In the parable of the Dinner in Luke 14:12-24 many gives the excuses for why they cannot come for the dinner.

  Luke 14:12-24 (NASB)

12 And He also went on to say to the one who had invited Him, “When you give a luncheon or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, otherwise they may also invite you in return andthat will be your repayment. 13 But when you give a [a]reception, invite thepoor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, 14 and you will be blessed, since they[b]do not have the means to repay you; for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”

15 When one of those who were reclining at the table with Him heard this, he said to Him, “Blessed is everyone who will eat bread in the kingdom of God!”

Parable of the Dinner

16 But He said to him, “A man was giving a big dinner, and he invited many;17 and at the dinner hour he sent his slave to say to those who had been invited, ‘Come; for everything is ready now.’ 18 But they all alike began to make excuses. The first one said to him, ‘I have bought a [c]piece of land and I need to go out and look at it; [d]please consider me excused.’ 19 Another one said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to try them out; [e]please consider me excused.’ 20 Another one said, ‘I have married a wife, and for that reason I cannot come.’ 21 And the slave came back and reported this to his master. Then the head of the household became angry and said to his slave, ‘Go out at once into the streets and lanes of the city and bring in here the poor and crippled and blind and lame.’ 22 And the slave said, ‘Master, what you commanded has been done, and still there is room.’ 23 And the master said to the slave, ‘Go out into the highways and along the hedges, and compel them to come in, so that my house may be filled. 24 For I tell you, none of those men who were invited shall taste of my dinner.’”

Peter did asks about the reward, for all that the Disciples have done: Jesus says - 

Matthew 19:27-30New American Standard Bible (NASB)

The Disciples’ Reward

27 Then Peter said to Him, “Behold, we have left everything and followed You; what then will there be for us?” 28 And Jesus said to them, “Truly I say to you, that you who have followed Me, in the regeneration when the Son of Man will sit on [a]His glorious throne, you also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother [b]or children or farms for My name’s sake, will receive [c]many times as much, and will inherit eternal life. 30 But many who arefirst will be last; and the last, first.

Your Hope Will Not Be Cut Off

Elijah and the Widow at Zarephath

1 Kings 17:7-16New American Standard Bible (NASB)

7 It happened after a while that the brook dried up, because there was no rain in the land.

8 Then the word of the Lord came to him, saying, 9 “Arise, go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and stay there; behold, I have commanded a widow there to provide for you.” 10 So he arose and went to Zarephath, and when he came to the gate of the city, behold, a widow was there gathering sticks; and he called to her and said, “Please get me a little water in a jar, that I may drink.” 11 As she was going to get it, he called to her and said, “Please bring me a piece of bread in your hand.” 12 But she said, “As the Lord your God lives, I have no bread, only a handful of flour in the bowl and a little oil in the jar; and behold, I am gathering a few sticks that I may go in and prepare for me and my son, that we may eat it and die.” 13 Then Elijah said to her, “Do not fear; go, do as you have said, but make me a little bread cake from it first and bring it out to me, and afterward you may make one for yourself and for your son. 14 For thus says the Lord God of Israel, ‘The bowl of flour shall not be exhausted, nor shall the jar of oil be empty, until the day that the Lord sends rain on the face of the earth.’” 15 So she went and did according to the word of Elijah, and she and he and her household ate for many days. 16 The bowl of flour was not exhausted nor did the jar of oil become empty, according to the word of the Lord which He spoke through Elijah.


Ever wondered why God asks what is in you? or what is with you?

Because we always try to find what is not with us and what is there with others. Envying others and strive to get the other's attention. But God says different. Even at a situation where the women was about to die after eating the bread, (She and her son). God sends word to Elijah to go and ask for the bread from that woman.

In Proverbs chapter 23. The author - Solomon says that we should not envy what is happening with others(especially the wicked), because God has every purpose and aim in his works.

Proverbs 23:17-18New International Version (NIV)

Saying 15

17 Do not let your heart envy sinners,
    but always be zealous for the fear of the Lord.
18 There is surely a future hope for you,
    and your hope will not be cut off.

What is important is that we need to understand from his point of view. Forgiveness is given for not the one who does everything right to you, but the one who wrongs. The goodness of life can be able to realized only when there is badness around us. If everything is good, then you will not be able to differentiate between the good and bad, we have lost that opportunity when the First Adam had sinned in the Garden of Eden.

v. 13 - Obedience is seen as an important aspect for miracles. If God says to do something, we should not think like a analyst, who analyses what happens if the word does not come true? because it is said by God (his promises) we can rely and trust in it completely. Justice delayed is not Justice denied.

Matthew 5:23-24 New International Version (NIV)

23 “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, 24 leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift. 

Important aspects we can see through the God's view on how we should react to the wrong judgment or bad or difficulty happening to our life when we do good.

Our hope on God's Judgment is never ceased. In this life if we were mis-judged and humiliated or persecuted. God has a better home - his heaven for us to welcome and make all those unjust remarks as a valuable one. We could see the parable of the rich man and Lazarus(Luke 16:19-31) for this. 

The Nature of God and Forgiveness

The Forgiving Nature of God:

Someone asked me if God wants to forgive us he could have just said a word or he could have done something, why should he come in the form of man and be crucified?

All I know is that God Loves us and he just does not want to say, but to show - Demonstrate his Love for us. If he has just said a word we would have been forgiven, no doubt about it, but to show us that we should also strive to be like him, because we are made in his image. When we suffer we are not alone, he did not left us alone to suffer. He forgives us our sins and heals all our diseases. He never leaves us nor forsakes us. He has promised that he will be with us for eternity. For which we should be able to live here without sin and with him. He did not chose to leave us free from problems and troubles, but instead he gives us helping hand - Mighty hand and he has a loving heart.

Galatians 6:7 NIV
Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.

Above all God's Nature is Love. He showed us how much he loves us, by sending us his Son - Jesus Christ. We are to acknowledge his love by accepting his Son, who is the only way to the Heavenly Father. His life should be our role model, our all in all, everything. He should be our Author & Finisher of our Faith, He should be our First and the Only Priority in life, He is the Alpha & Omega, He is the Beginning and the End, He is the Great "I AM", He is YAHWEH, He is El Shaddai.

Challenges in understanding the Nature Of God:

How can God be in Human Form? - Jesus Christ


The Omnipotence Paradox is about God's providence on providing:

The omnipotence paradox states that: If a being can perform any action, then it should be able to create a task that it is unable to perform. Hence, this being cannot perform all actions. On the other hand, if this being cannot create a task that it is unable to perform, then there is something it cannot do.

One version of the omnipotence paradox is the so-called paradox of the stone: "Could an omnipotent being create a stone so heavy that even he could not lift it?" If he could lift the rock, then it seems that the being would not have been omnipotent to begin with in that he would have been incapable of creating a heavy enough stone; if he could not lift the stone, then it seems that the being either would never have been omnipotent to begin with or would have ceased to be omnipotent upon his creation of the stone

This paradox sounds something like the Temptation of Jesus Christ on Wilderness.

Matthew 4:3 ►NIV
The tempter came to him and said, "If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread."

Here the question is to make the stone even more larger, that he cannot hold. God is not as what we think who he is. First of all he does't have to make anything to prove who he is. He already exists. So, it is we who need to understand who God is. He does't have to create anything to prove that he exists.

Colossians 1:16 NIV
For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.

For we are the one, we can't do anything with ourselves:

Matthew 5:36 NIV
And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black.

The Nature of Man and Sin

The Sinful Nature of Man:
It so amazes me that above all creations Man has a specialty. He is given the knowledge of Speech, where he can share his feelings of love and hatred, show his sufferings and joy, anger. etc above all this he is given a knowledge to think and act, not only to react - Like animals, but to think and act. The processing of the information to make everything meaningful for life.

In the processing of making everything meaningful men has reached a far heights, just like the former men who tried to reach up to heaven by building great structures(tower of babel). Today with the invent of new things Man thinks that he could create anything which he wanted, not knowing their consequences.

The once thought gifts of Speech - for better Communication, gift of thought - to think and act has now become a threat to the whole mankind. The new inventions of communication seems to be very friendly and also giving us access to all the info at the point of a touch, but it has built a great wall between the humans for communication. The knowledge and wisdom once thought to give humble attitude, now has a different fact, power and smartness has blinded the vision of what God wants us to do.

2 Timothy 4:1-8New American Standard Bible (NASB)

“Preach the Word”

4 I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is tojudge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: 2 preachthe word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with [a]great patience and instruction. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, 4 andwill turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths. 5 But you,be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

6 For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; 8 in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.   

How to Know God's Will

Is there anything like God's will? of course, then how come we can have our own ways?

The concept of predestination and free will has been spoken over and over again over the centuries. It dates back to the very old age of mankind. But one thing we all need to be sure of is. God's will for our life is that, he always wanted us to do good.

Honor God At All Times

One of the most important aspect of a Christian life is to Honor God, our main aim of our life should be that of Glorifying God. It may through different service, but ultimately it is the purpose of every Christian. "Worship Lord Jesus, Glorify him, Honor him".

It becomes much difficult to honor God if the things of the earth - The Cares of the World is pulling us down. If we are a failure, it we are hurt by others or if we put our trust of others, rather than God.
But still there is one hope, we can always say thanks to God. When we look at the big picture, we see that God never intends for our lives to be a failure, but temporary defeat doesn't mean that we are not incapable of a permanent success. Because Christ has already won the battle and has given us this life. We did not earn it, but he provided it. So, we should be thankful for it. If only we know the truth of the sacrifice of The Son Of God, If only we know the Cost that it took for Jesus Christ to shed the blood for our sins, If only we know how much pain and suffering he went through for my life. To make us in his likeness, to follow all his commands - his footsteps. He made us more than conquerors We are made victorious in and through him.

What are we suppose to do? At the crisis situations, how can we still praise God?
We can see in the lives of the people in the Bible, how God enabled them to overcome the circumstances and to concentrate on God, God alone was their priority. We could see in the parables and in the allegories and analogy Jesus Christ used to emphasis this one point. That we should always be praising God and never complain, regret or to worry about situations or circumstances.


Two people from the old testament

Job

Job 13:15 NIV
Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him; I will surely defend my ways to his face.


Habakkuk

Habakkuk 3:17-18New American Standard Bible (NASB)

17 Though the fig tree should not blossom
And there be no [a]fruit on the vines,
Though the yield of the olive should fail
And the fields produce no food,
Though the flock should be cut off from the fold
And there be no cattle in the stalls,
18 Yet I will exult in the Lord,
I will rejoice in the God of my salvation.

When things happen not in our way:

1 Peter 4:12-19New American Standard Bible (NASB)

Share the Sufferings of Christ

12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you; 13 but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation. 14 If you are reviled [a]for the name of Christ, you are blessed,because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. 15 Make sure that none of you suffers as a murderer, or thief, or evildoer, or a [b]troublesome meddler;16 but if anyone suffers as a Christian, he is not to be ashamed, but is toglorify God in this name. 17 For it is time for judgment to begin [c]with the household of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? 18 And if it is with difficulty that the righteous is saved, [d]what will become of the godless man and the sinner? 19 Therefore, those also who suffer according to the will of God shall entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in doing what is right.

Paul

2 Corinthians 4 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

Paul’s Apostolic Ministry

4 Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we received mercy, we do not lose heart, 2 but we have renounced the things hidden because of shame, not walking in craftiness or adulterating the word of God, but by the manifestation of truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled [a]to those who are perishing, 4 in whose case the god of this [b]world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving[c]so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 5 For we do not preach ourselves but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your bond-servants [d]for Jesus’ sake. 6 For God, who said, “Light shall shine out of darkness,” is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.

7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves; 8 we areafflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing;9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; 10 always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. 11 For we who live are constantly being delivered over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. 12 So death works in us, but life in you.

13 But having the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, “I believed, therefore I spoke,” we also believe, therefore we also speak, 14 knowing that He who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and will present us with you. 15 For all things are for your sakes, so that the grace which is [e]spreading to more and more people may cause the giving of thanks to abound to the glory of God.

16 Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. 17 For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison,18 while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

Beware of the deception of Life

It was the first sin, that which looked good to eyes and the deception that there is a knowledge of good and evil, to be like God, which made eve to eat the fruit of life & death and also gave it to Adam.

These fruits are still growing all around us, the things that we make to enrich ourselves, to live a self-centered lives, to be selfish, to attain self-righteousness. Forgetting what God did on the cross for the sins that we all have committed, rather than repentance we seek for more sins, more fruits.

The fruit of deception has three main ingredients in it:
1) Lust of the flesh
2) Lust of the eyes and
3) The Pride of Life


1 John 2:16 NIV
For everything in the world--the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life--comes not from the Father but from the world.



2 Corinthians 11:14 NIV
And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.

Matthew 7:15-16 (NASB)
A Tree and Its Fruit
15 “Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 16 You will know them by their fruits. [b]Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they?



1 Corinthians 6:19 NIV
Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own;

John 10:10 NIV
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.


What are we suppose to do when we are tempted with these kind of things around us?
Prayer is an ultimate answer, If our heart is connected with God. He will not only make us aware of what is happening around us, but also provide us a way to escape the snares of the devil.
Since our flesh is weak, we should never give an opportunity to devil to access our heart. We should guard with the power of the God's Word. We should be aware of the fact that our body is the temple of the Holy spirit who lives in us.
Matthew 26:41 NIV
"Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak."

Psalm 32:9 NIV
Do not be like the horse or the mule, which have no understanding but must be controlled by bit and bridle or they will not come to you.

From where did all these start from?
From trusting on the power of flesh, putting the trust on the flesh and the work alone will never give us an opportunity to accept the grace of God.

Psalm 20:7 NIV

Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.

What is the reward?

1 Timothy 4:8(KJV)

8 For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.