When
I first became a Christian I was told that I needed to “follow Jesus.” I
wondered, "How am I supposed follow Jesus when He isn't physically on earth anymore?" I found the answer in Mark 5.
A
man was so possessed with demons that he could break chains that were used to
bind him. Jesus cast the demons out of the man into a herd of pigs, which
rushed over a cliff and into the sea. As Jesus was getting into the boat to
leave, the formerly demonized man begged to go with Him.
Jesus
wouldn’t let him go. Instead, He said, “Go back home to your own people and report to them
how much the Lord has done for you and how He has had mercy on you” (Mark
5:19). Jesus knew he could make a bigger impact by sharing his testimony back
home rather than going with Him. The man
was following Jesus by obeying Him—and not by physically following Him.
How
do we follow Jesus today? By obeying God’s Word and the promptings of the Holy
Spirit, who indwells all true believers. You don’t have to become a missionary
in a foreign country to follow Jesus. You can do the same as this man—share Jesus
where you live right now with the people you already know. If everyone would do
this we could evangelize the world in a matter of days.
Making Life Count Ministries
P.O. Box 680174
Prattville, Alabama 36068-0174
Thank you to all who support this
discipleship ministry.
Contributions to Making Life
Count Ministries are tax-deductible.
