“So go and make followers of all people in the world. Baptize them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach them to obey everything that I have told you to do. You can be sure that I will be with you always. I will continue with you until the end of time.” (Matthew 28:19-20)
What is our response to Jesus today? Or is the question rather: Why is it so difficult for us to pick up our cross to do the work Jesus has called us to do? He expects the same obedience from us as that of the disciples who followed Him when He walked this earth in the flesh the first time. “As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” At once they left their nets and followed him.” (Matthew 4:18-20)
When Jesus called them, the response from Peter and Andrew was instantaneous. It was the same with James and John, the sons of Zebedee. It is written: “and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.” (Matthew 4:22).
Could we perhaps explain the instant response of the disciples, by reason of them being called by Jesus, a man in the flesh, standing righty in front of them? Today we are called through the Word of God, the Bible, or perhaps in a dream, a vision, or through a prophet to go where Jesus is calling us. We are called to follow Jesus whom we read about in the Bible, who lived 2000 years ago, and who was killed. We cannot see Him, but we have to belief by faith that He is real. The Bible also tells us that Jesus rose from the dead. He ascended to heaven and is alive today. Do we really believe this? That Jesus, the man who died and ascended into heaven, is alive today and calling us into His service?
This is the fundamental question we have to ask ourselves. If one does not believe this, then it will be difficult to leave everything behind to answer His call. If this is where you are today, then I encourage you to gain your own certainty. Pray for faith. Rebuke the spirit of unbelief and earnestly seek God. If we know that we know in our hearts that Jesus is alive and with us and that He is who He says He is, then it will be easy for us to answer the call.
The Word says: “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” (Hebrews 11:6)
The Word also says: “But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” (John 4:23-24)
For now, I will leave you to answer these very important questions for yourself. I will come back next time to talk about answering the call.
My Prayer
Holy Father Ahayah, thank you for sending Your Son to die for our sins. Thank you that He is alive and ascended into heaven and that He is coming back. Father, please help us in our unbelief. Help us to know that Jesus is alive, that He is with us and calling us today to follow Him. Aman.