I want you... to follow Jesus!

In 1917 James Montgomery Flagg’s poster of “Uncle Sam” sternly pointing his finger with the words, “I want you… for the U.S. Army” challenged young men to leave their homes and loved ones in order to join the fight during World War I. The poster also reemerged and sent out the call again during World War II. Uncle Sam called young men, some only 18-19 years old (some were even younger), to put their lives on the line for a greater purpose. There was no promise of coming home in one piece or even at all. This was a call to total commitment. Yet many willingly and wholeheartedly answered that call, even to the point of death.

Uncle Sam did not flinch in his call for total commitment. He was not apologetic. At the same time he did not shame his audience. If one didn’t answer the call you could see him go right on to the next person he would meet. No excuses, just a simple, “Yes” or “No” was all he needed and then he moved on to the next recruit.

What would happen today if there was that same call given to follow Jesus?

Of course, in today’s world we have many people, organizations, and things that call out for our total commitment. From family, to friends, to school, sports, as well as boyfriends/girlfriends… everyone is clamoring for the #1 spot in our hearts, minds, and souls.

People are willing to give up a lot of freedom to achieve their goals. However, at the end of the day, what do they have to show for their blood, sweat, and tears?

In the Bible, Jesus called his disciples in a similar way. He simply, unapologetically called people to, “Come follow Me.” This evening we are going to take a look at one of those disciples named Levi. He was also known as Matthew. This is the same Matthew who wrote the Gospel of Matthew.

After this, Jesus went out and saw a tax collector by the name of Levi sitting at his tax booth. "Follow me," Jesus said to him, and Levi got up, left everything and followed him.  (Luke 5:27-28 NIV).

The call was simple. “Follow me.” But what did Jesus mean? In that day, to follow meant total, not casual commitment. It meant, as Jesus said,

"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.” (Luke 9:23-24 NIV)

Following Jesus means that you set your agenda aside and yield to His agenda. This is what He did for us when He laid down His life for ours. As the man in the video explained, Jesus is only asking of us what He Himself already did for us.

And here’s the amazing thing, what He is asking us to give up in nothing in comparison to what He is giving us. The Apostle Paul said,

But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ--the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. (Philippians 3:7-9 NIV)

It’s crazy! We give Him our sins and He gives us His grace and mercy. We give Him our brokenness and He give us healing. We give Him our unforgiveness and bitterness and He gives us forgiveness and joy. I don’t know about you, but I think He got the raw end of the deal.

So how did Levi respond to Jesus’ call to follow Him?

First Levi got up. He positioned himself to move toward Jesus. This was his “line in the sand” moment. He literally was taking a stand and declaring his desire to follow Jesus.

Second, he left everything. Everything else came second. In order to take hold of Jesus with his whole mind, soul, and strength, he had to let go of everything else. The neat thing is that as he left go of everything else then he could truly love others with Jesus’ perfect love.

Third, Levi followed Jesus. This was not a one-time thing. To follow meant that he would follow and continue following Jesus, daily. Remember Judas Iscariot was also one of the disciples, but somewhere along the line, Judas choose not to follow Jesus. He ended up following his own desire for money and ended up betraying Jesus.

Today, Jesus is calling you to follow Him. How will you respond? Will you make a stand today, leave everything, and follow Him? Let’s take some time and if you are willing to take that next step toward Jesus, I encourage you to come up front and take some time to pray and do business with Him. He’s given His all for you are you willing to give your all for Him?

From TV to Reality

God still works miracles… TODAY! He heals, He changes lives, and He sets people free… TODAY. We are called to do three things in response to the Father. We are called to hear His Word, believe His Word, and obey His Word. It is HBO: hear, believe, and obey. When we step out of an entertainment mentality and step into an eternal mentality everything changes. All of a sudden, the impossible becomes possible because with God all things are possible. It’s the difference between seeing Jesus walk on the water and hearing His call to come out on the water with Him. When we hear His voice, trust Him, and step out into that which is impossible for us to do in our own strength, then we get to experience the promises of God. Like the second generation of Israelites in the desert, we get to go into the Promise Land. However, if we choose to not believe Him and fail to step out in faith, we miss out on experiencing all that God has for us… life, love, peace, joy, hope, forgiveness, salvation and the list goes on. We end up going around in circles, never experiencing the Father’s blessings. The writer of Hebrews states:

So, as the Holy Spirit says: "Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion, during the time of testing in the wilderness, where your ancestors tested and tried me, though for forty years they saw what I did. That is why I was angry with that generation; I said, 'Their hearts are always going astray, and they have not known my ways.' So I declared on oath in my anger, 'They shall never enter my rest.'" See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called "Today," so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness.

(Hebrews 3:7-13 NIV)

My challenge to you is as you hear His Word, believe it and step out in obedience. When you do, you will find The Holy Spirit will meet you with power to do the impossible. Remember, it is “Not by might nor by power, but my My Spirit, says the Lord God Almighty” (Zechariah 4:6 NIV).