Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK … Please take the time to take in a video of Aaron Pelsue singing the old hymn, I Have Decided to Follow Jesus, with a song of commitment to follow Jesus … no matter where He leads … and a more modern arrangement declares that we must not look back when this commitment is made …
Highlight Passage: Psalm 63: 8 [NKJV] …
8 My soul follows close behind You, [LORD]; and Your right hand upholds me. … The attitude of any who are disciples of the Living God.
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Highlight Context – 1st Kings 19: 19-21 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …
… Elisha is called and follows Elijah
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Reference Passage #1 - Matthew 28: 19-20 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …
… Jesus' parting commission to all who follow Him … "The Great Commission"
Reference Passage #2 - Luke5: 10b - 11 [NKJV] …
10b And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid. From now on you will be a fisher of men.” So, when they (Simon, Andrew, James, and John) had brought their boats to land, they forsook all and followed Him.
… Jesus calls the fishermen to follow Him.
Reference Passage #3 - Luke 9: 23 [NKJV] …
ALERT !! - You should know what Jesus calls His followers to do.
… Deny self and be like our Savior!! … Follow Him.
My Journal for Today: Today’s Our Daily Bread author, Jennifer Benson Schuldt, reflected on her youth with memories of going to church camp in the summers, and gathering around a roaring campfire at the end of camp, … singing the old hymn, with the lyrics, “I have decided to follow Jesus, … No turning back, … No turning back!! … And so many around the campfire were burning for discipleship after their week together. Many of the youth felt God’s call; and had decided to follow their Lord.
Following Jesus is not an easy commitment, especially in these days where the ungodly demands of the world are so strong. And in today’s Scripture readings above, we see others in both the Old and New Testament times, who made strong and lasting commitments to follow the Lord. … There was Elisha being called into a servant relationship to follow Elijah (see 1st Kings 19: 19-21 linked above); and there was Jesus calling the fishermen Simon, Andrew, James, and John to leave their boats - in faith - and follow Him (see Luke 5: 10-11) to become “fishers of men.”
And during Jesus’ ministry on earth, teaching His inner Disciples and reaching out to others who were following Him around the countryside, He exhorted and called them to true discipleship by denying themselves, taking up their daily circumstances of life, and being willing to obediently follow Jesus as their Lord (see Luke 9: 23). And finally all Christians were called and commissioned by Jesus when He rose into heaven after His resurrection, … called by His “Great Commission” (see Matthew 28: 19: 20). And all who are sincere born-again Christians are still called by that Great Commission to obediently and humbly follow our Lord.
The question from ODB today is … “ARE WE?”
My Prayer Today: Oh, my Lord, … You call, and prayerfully and obediently, I desire Your grace and strength to be Your slave. … Amen
Blogger Note: Everyday during this year, my daily devotional blogs are influenced by the reading and study of the online devotional blog entitled Our Daily Bread, distributed online via email by RBC Ministries. If you GO TO THIS LINK on the date of my blog, you can read/study the ODB blogs; or you can subscribe to the blog via email at that site.
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