v. 16 – following their own sinful desires;

Devotional:

Followers follow. That’s deep stuff right there. Inherent to being a follower is following. We follow the laws of the land, or at least most of us try to most of the time. We follow Siri when she says to turn. We follow directions when we want to do something right the first time. We do all of these things because it is hardwired into us that we are followers.

To follow means to “come after in time or order”. 12 It is to be lined up behind something with the intention of staying there. When it comes to the direction of our lives, we have two choices: follow Jesus or follow our own sinful desires. It’s really that simple.

In New Testament times, a rabbi would call an apprentice to follow him and that apprentice would leave his life as he knew it to follow closely behind the rabbi. And when he departed his old life to pursue this new life of following, a blessing of “May you be covered with the dust of your rabbi” would be spoken over him. The expectation of this kind of following is that he would walk so closely that the dust the rabbi kicked up would get all over him.

This is the same call Jesus had on the first four disciples on the beaches of the Sea of Galilee. He said, “Come and follow me” and follow him they did! It is also the same call He has given to each of us as His followers. He asks us to pick up all of who we are and follow Him closely. In other words, He invites us to be covered in His dust.

There are three things at work in the life of those who truly follow Jesus. They may not all be at work at the same time, and they may not work themselves out in the same manner or with the same vigor, but if you look into the sprouting seeds of faith inside the believer, you will certainly find them at work.

One reality you are certain to find in the life of the believer is the conviction for sin. To be a Jesus follower is to be indwelt by His spirit and that spirit is calling and equipping us to walk in line with Jesus. Anywhere we get out of step, He shows us so we can find our way back into our rabbi’s dust.

The second thing we find at work in the life of a believer is a hunger to know more. Peter, one of the original disciples, tells us “His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence” (2 Peter 1:3). This means we have everything we need in God’s Word and from God’s spirit to walk out in the life to which Jesus has called us. And the more we follow in His steps, the more we want to know about what He has said and how we can follow Him more closely.

The third condition we find at work in the true follower of Jesus is a passion for others to follow Him. There is plenty of room in line behind Jesus and He throws up a lot of dust to cover the multitudes, so we dare not covet or crowd His call. Instead, we share it freely with others because we want them to taste the same depths of His teachings, the hope of His life, and the power of His resurrection as we have.

REFLECTION:

What sin has the Holy Spirit convicted you of lately? Are you hungry to know God more deeply? Does your quiet time reflect a healthy appetite for the things of God? Do you find yourself feeling passionate about reaching the lost? If not, why?