Jesus said, “Follow Me.”

John 1:43-44 The next day He purposed to go into Galilee, and He found Philip. And Jesus said to him, “Follow Me.” Now Philip was from Bethsaida, of the city of Andrew and Peter. Jesus calls everyone to follow Him. Matt. 16:24. “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me.” And again, John 12:26, “If anyone serves Me, he must follow Me.” Let’s consider what is implied in Jesus’ command, “Follow Me.” First, it implies that Jesus has authority. Not just anyone can, out of the blue, tell someone to follow them and expect obedience. When Jesus said, “Follow Me,” He clearly thought He had the authority to do so. Indeed, as our creator, He does have the right to direct us as He pleases. Jesus is Lord and Master. All authority has been given to Him in heaven and earth. He can not only tell us to follow Him, but He can also tell us to go as He does in the Great Commission. Second, it implies that He has a plan for those who follow Him. If your boss came to you and said, “Follow me,” you know he has something in mind for you to do, and he intends to show you. So when Jesus tells Philip to follow Him, Philip knows Jesus has a plan for his life. Third, it calls for self-denial and surrender of one’s own plans and agendas. This is clear when Jesus said in Matt. 16:24. “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me.” Philip knew Jesus expected him to lay down whatever plans he had for his life and surrender himself to do what Jesus had planned for him. Fourth, the command to follow reveals where the Spirit of God is working. The natural man won’t give up his self-life, his own aspirations, his purpose in life and submit to Jesus’ beliefs and way of thinking. Only one who believes that Jesus has authority over him would obey the call. Such faith is a work of the Holy Spirit, as Peter noted regarding the first Gentiles who believed. “And God, who knows the heart, testified to them giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He also did to us; and He made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith” (Acts 15:8-9). So the command to follow reveals where the Holy Spirit is at work. Fifth, in those who hear the call to follow and obey, they have every reason to have a sense of hope and expectation. One doesn’t abandon his own will and surrender himself to another without believing the new purpose and plan is better than the present one. Sixth, to be told to follow is an honor. It is a tribute to you if your boss selects you to come with him to fulfill some important task. I again cite John 12:26, “If anyone serves Me, he must follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also; if anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him.” The Father will honor those who serve Jesus and follow Him. So what is Jesus’ plan for those who follow Him? Jesus told His followers, “My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples” (John 15:8). And what is the fruit we are to carry? The fruit of the life of Jesus Christ—His love. “I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.” That was the plan Jesus had in mind for Philip when He said, “Follow Me.” Jesus’ plan for us is the same—to take on His purpose and thinking. He calls us to live to love with Him for the rest of our lives. What an encouragement for all who have heard His call to follow Him. I invite you to become a partner in our ministry. Would you pray about becoming a regular supporter of Elijah Ministries and the Live to Love with Jesus ministry? I hope you will receive the joy and benefit of “giving it forward,” so others may receive encouragement to turn their hearts to God and to live to love with Jesus. You may give online or send a check to the address listed at www.spiritofelijah.com/donate.