We had our Baptism Sunday earlier this month when we received new members into our church. We are very happy to see many new believers baptised, affirmed in the faith and joined as members of our church. 

Let us ponder on the topic of following Jesus this week. Are we following Christ the way we should? 

Invitation to follow the Lord

Jesus came to earth for a mission. He was here to save sinners like us. While He was preaching the Gospel, He invited the disciples to be with Him and to learn from Him. Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee one day and He saw Peter and Andrew. Jesus said to them, "Follow me" (Matt 4:1).  Notice how our Lord did not select His disciples from the palace, or from the temple where many learned elites and academics dwell. Neither did Jesus select His followers from groups of people deemed capable by the standards of human. Jesus did not judge the suitability of His disciples with worldly standards, and instead selected fishermen like Peter and Andrew, sinner and tax collector like Matthew. Jesus did not judge a person by his outward achievements or abilities. Jesus invited the people He wants. Jesus elects, not man. 

Dear brethren, if a high ranking person invites you to join him for something, I am sure many of us will not hesitate to accept his invitation. Today, we receive the invitation from the Son of God saying "Follow me". Will we accept it? We receive everlasting life if we accept the invitation and become the children of God. How wonderful! 

Following Jesus till the end

Jesus selected twelve disciples whom He taught for three and a half years. We would think that these disciples must have received wonderful instructions from the Lord and hence displayed much Christ-likeness in them. However, we still see the wickedness of man when Judas betrayed Jesus, and the weakness of the other disciples when they forsook Jesus in times of peril. All went back to their old trade after Jesus was crucified. After Jesus rose from the dead, He showed Himself to the disciples and encouraged them. This enabled the disciples to be revived spiritually and with the help of the Holy Spirit, they went preaching the Gospel without fear. They did this till the very end of their lives. 

Dear brethren, God did not promise a trouble free life after we believe in Him. We will still encounter problems with work, family and service. However, God promises to be with us always and that the Holy Spirit dwells in us. Therefore, we can have the determination and courage to follow Jesus till the very end. 

Today, we are believers of Christ. We may have wandered off track on our own before, or we may be distracted by the things in the world. Now, Jesus says to us: "Follow me!" Let us follow Jesus till the end.

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