Scriptures: Matthew 4 (New International Version)
Jesus Begins to Preach
12When Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, he returned to Galilee. 13Leaving Nazareth, he went and lived in Capernaum, which was by the lake in the area of Zebulun and Naphtali— 14to fulfill what was said through the prophet Isaiah: 15"Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the way to the sea, along the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles— 16the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned."
17From that time on Jesus began to preach, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near."
The Calling of the First Disciples
18As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. 19"Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men." 20At once they left their nets and followed him.
21Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them, 22and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.
Jesus Heals the Sick
23Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people. 24News about him spread all over Syria, and people brought to him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed, and he healed them. 25Large crowds from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea and the region across the Jordan followed him.
1 Peter 1:17-25 (New Century Version)
17 You pray to God and call him Father, and he judges each person's work equally. So while you are here on earth, you should live with respect for God.18 You know that in the past you were living in a worthless way, a way passed down from the people who lived before you. But you were saved from that useless life. You were bought, not with something that ruins like gold or silver,19 but with the precious blood of Christ, who was like a pure and perfect lamb.20 Christ was chosen before the world was made, but he was shown to the world in these last times for your sake.21 Through Christ you believe in God, who raised Christ from the dead and gave him glory. So your faith and your hope are in God.
22 Now that your obedience to the truth has purified your souls, you can have true love for your Christian brothers and sisters. So love each other deeply with all your heart. 23 You have been born again, and this new life did not come from something that dies, but from something that cannot die. You were born again through God's living message that continues forever.24 The Scripture says, "All people are like the grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field. The grass dies and the flowers fall, 25 but the word of the Lord will live forever." — Isaiah 40:6–8 And this is the word that was preached to you.
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Okay – God really wants to make sure I get a clear understanding of His Father’s Day lesson for me. In His lovingkindness and His tender mercy, He has repeated the lesson from yesterday on today.
At church yesterday, much of the sermon concerned Jesus’ call to His disciples to,”Follow Me.” Matthew 4:18-23 was a foundational text. Today, one of my devotionals (Hope for Each Day: Words of Wisdom and Faith by Billy Graham) said, in part:
Discipleship is always costly. No, it may not cost us our lives. But it will cost us. It will cost us our plans, our wills, our selfish desires. Jesus’ standard has not changed: “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.” (Matthew 16:24, NKJV) Instead of controlling our lives, we turn them over to Christ as Lord.
Someone has said, “Salvation is free but not cheap.” It cost Jesus His life, and it will cost us as well. But could anything be greater? Could anything be more fulfilling?
Follow Christ, and at life’s end you will be able to say, “No regrets.”
Hmmm – follow – looked up the word in Matthew 16:24 on http://www.blueletterbible.org/, checked out the concordance option:
Part of Speech: verb
Outline of Biblical Usage:
1) to follow one who precedes, join him as his attendant, accompany him
2) to join one as a disciple, become or be his disciple
a) side with his party
Root Word (Etymology)
From ἄλφα (G1) (as a particle of union) and keleuthos (a road)
Vine's Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words
1
Strong's Number: g190
Greek: akoloutheo Transliteration: akoloutheō
Pronunciation: ä-ko-lü-the'-ō
Follow, Follow After:
to be an akolouthos, "a follower," or "companion" (from the prefix a, here expressing "union, likeness," and keleuthos, "a way;" hence, "one going in the same way"), is used
(a) frequently in the literal sense, e.g., Mat 4:25;
(b) metaphorically, of "discipleship," e.g., Mar 8:34; 9:38; 10:21. It is used 77 times in the Gospels, of "following" Christ, and only once otherwise, Mar 14:13.
Matthew 7:13-14 (New International Version)
The Narrow and Wide Gates
13"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.
Luke 13:22-30 (New International Version)
The Narrow Door
22Then Jesus went through the towns and villages, teaching as he made his way to Jerusalem. 23Someone asked him, "Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?"
He said to them, 24"Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to. 25Once the owner of the house gets up and closes the door, you will stand outside knocking and pleading, 'Sir, open the door for us.' "But he will answer, 'I don't know you or where you come from.'
26"Then you will say, 'We ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.'
27"But he will reply, 'I don't know you or where you come from. Away from me, all you evildoers!'
28"There will be weeping there, and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but you yourselves thrown out. 29People will come from east and west and north and south, and will take their places at the feast in the kingdom of God. 30Indeed there are those who are last who will be first, and first who will be last."
John 14:6 (New International Version)
Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
So, to follow Jesus means to join Him to serve as attendant, accompany Him, be His companion, in union with Him, siding and agreeing with Him.
Amos 3:3 (King James Version)
3Can two walk together, except they be agreed?
And, to follow Jesus through voluntary obedience as a disciple in order to go His way – the narrow way that leads to life - to come as a result to reflect His likeness.
Philippians 2:5-11 (King James Version)The song says, “No turning back.”
5Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
6Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
7But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
8And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
9Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
10That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
11And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
2 Corinthians 3:17-18 (New International Version)
17Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the
Spirit.
Hebrews 5:7-9 (New International Version)
7During the days of Jesus' life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. 8Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered 9and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him 10and was designated by God to be high priest in the order of Melchizedek.
Only, Lord, by Your Presence, Your power, Your Spirit can I stay on track, not turn back, and have no regrets. Thank You for Your help, for keeping me.
... and my journey with Him continues ...
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