Jesus told him, “Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead.” -Matthew 8:22

 

My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. – John 10:27

 

I often wish God would have made me more like a robot so I could just input the God program into my life and always do His will as He would desire it. But…..that is not how God works. He created us to be people of free will so we could CHOOSE. We can choose to love Him…or not. We can choose to listen to Him….or listen to our own heart/mind. We can choose to obey Him….or disobey Him. He made us so we always have choices.

 

There is a quote by Francis Chan in his book Crazy Love: Overwhelmed by a Relentless God that I love: “If life is a river, then pursuing Christ requires swimming upstream. When we stop swimming, or actively following Him, we automatically begin to be swept downstream.” Sometimes following God’s way is not always the easy way. Sometimes we have to face difficult circumstances, ridicule, or opposition. But regardless of the hard times, living for Jesus is so much better than living without Him. Working toward the goal of eternal life with the Holy Spirit at my side, the full armor of God protecting me, the light of Jesus radiating from me, and the love of God shown through me is my choice, my goal, and my desire! 

 

Noah had a choice about whether or not to build an ark. Moses had to decide to follow God after hearing his voice speak to him through a burning bush. Mary beautifully said yes to God as a young teenager. The disciples followed Jesus, saying yes by leaving behind their previous life. They all had a choice. We all have a choice as well.

 

There is a chorus we sang in my childhood church with words written by Shirley Caesar:

I’ll say yes, Lord, yes to your will and to your way.

I’ll say yes, Lord, yes. I will trust you and obey.

When your Spirit speaks to me 

With my whole heart, I’ll agree

And my answer will be yes, Lord, yes.

 

“For we will be counted as righteous when we obey all the commands the Lord our God has given us.” -Deuteronomy 6:25

 

Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me. -Matthew 10:38

 

Dear Heavenly Father,

Only by pursuing You and saying yes to You, we are worthy. Let us be attentive to what you have to say. Let us have ears that hear Your Word and Your commands. And then, Lord, let us be obedient. Help us to always obey. Let us willingly take up our cross and follow You. In this act, let us find our worth, help others find You, and spend our eternity with You. 

We pray in the precious name of Jesus, 

Amen. 

Emily Kilby
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