Jesus Revealed in Doctrine "FOLLOW ME"
And the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. John 10:4.
A tour group traveling in the Middle East was told by the tour guide to watch for the sheepherders. "A shepherd never drives his sheep, but rather leads them," he said. So they began watching for an opportunity to see this in action. But the first group of sheep they saw were being driven, urged on with sticks and stones and shouts. They checked the matter out to discover what had happened to the sheepherding business, and learned that they had happened upon a group of sheep being taken by the butcher!
Jesus said, "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me" (Matt. 16:24). He said that the sheep hear the voice of the shepherd that they know, and follow him (John 10:4). He said, "If any man serve me, let him follow me" (chap. 12:26). He told the rich young ruler to sell all he had, and follow (Matt. 19:21). And He invited the disciples to follow Him to become fishers of men (chap. 4:19).
When we follow someone we trust, it is the opposite of being coaxed or pushed or coerced. Jesus invites us to follow. And in Revelation 14:4 we find a group of people who have become so involved with the One who is both Shepherd and Lamb that they follow Him wherever He goes.
Luke 9:57-62 tells of a group who had trouble with the idea of following Jesus. They made excuses. They had other things they wanted to do instead. And Jesus indicated to them they they could not have divided hearts. Those who follow Him must be totally committed. But the key is that they were asked to follow Him. First Peter 2:21 says that "hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps."
Only the Holy Spirit knows the timetable for each soul. We don't. We must allow Him to do His work. He is the one who must bring each of us to decision. And the basis of all decision is to decide to follow Christ. Decision is meaningful only in that setting. When we have chosen to follow Christ and have learned to know His voice, then He can lead us to whatever else He desires for us in terms of decisions. The Holy Spirit leads each one individually in deciding to follow Christ and in continuing to follow Him day by day.
And the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. John 10:4.
A tour group traveling in the Middle East was told by the tour guide to watch for the sheepherders. "A shepherd never drives his sheep, but rather leads them," he said. So they began watching for an opportunity to see this in action. But the first group of sheep they saw were being driven, urged on with sticks and stones and shouts. They checked the matter out to discover what had happened to the sheepherding business, and learned that they had happened upon a group of sheep being taken by the butcher!
Jesus said, "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me" (Matt. 16:24). He said that the sheep hear the voice of the shepherd that they know, and follow him (John 10:4). He said, "If any man serve me, let him follow me" (chap. 12:26). He told the rich young ruler to sell all he had, and follow (Matt. 19:21). And He invited the disciples to follow Him to become fishers of men (chap. 4:19).
When we follow someone we trust, it is the opposite of being coaxed or pushed or coerced. Jesus invites us to follow. And in Revelation 14:4 we find a group of people who have become so involved with the One who is both Shepherd and Lamb that they follow Him wherever He goes.
Luke 9:57-62 tells of a group who had trouble with the idea of following Jesus. They made excuses. They had other things they wanted to do instead. And Jesus indicated to them they they could not have divided hearts. Those who follow Him must be totally committed. But the key is that they were asked to follow Him. First Peter 2:21 says that "hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps."
Only the Holy Spirit knows the timetable for each soul. We don't. We must allow Him to do His work. He is the one who must bring each of us to decision. And the basis of all decision is to decide to follow Christ. Decision is meaningful only in that setting. When we have chosen to follow Christ and have learned to know His voice, then He can lead us to whatever else He desires for us in terms of decisions. The Holy Spirit leads each one individually in deciding to follow Christ and in continuing to follow Him day by day.
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