“’Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men’” (Matt. 4.19). Can you imagine following Jesus on a daily basis while on earth? Can we see ourselves following Jesus today? Are we following Him? The more we follow the Lord, the more convicted we should become as His servants. Let us strive to be members who learn how to deny themselves daily as we take up our cross and follow Him (Luke 9.23). What will it require for us to truly follow Jesus and what will be our thought process as we learn and develop our discipleship? The disciples grew and supported the teachings and work of Christ and it was evident in their willingness to suffer and die for His cause (Acts 5.29, 42).

Jesus taught many subjects to the Galilean Jews on the Mount. His teachings were so profound and beneficial, “that the people were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes” (Matt. 7.28-29). Just as the two on the road to Emmaus said to one another, “’Did not our hearts burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?’” (Luke 24.32), we too should see the beauty and blessing of allowing His teachings to do likewise . These men were so moved by this conversation they invited Him to come and spend more time with them and break bread (Luke 24.25-32). Perhaps we can see why they were so encouraged by their encounter with Him that we would desire to have the same with our Lord.

While following Jesus, the disciples experienced His zeal (Jn. 2.17), His humility and power to feed over five thousand (Jn. 6.1-14) and His raising of Lazarus from the dead (Jn. 11.38-44). To see the work of Jesus in real time had to be amazing and this should encourage us to respect His ministry more and more as His servants.  Jesus’ love for God the Father and the Temple was seen in the turning over of tables and His driving the moneychangers out (Jn. 2.13-15). Notice His words, “’Take these things away! Do not make My Father’s house a house of merchandise!’” (Jn. 2.16). For this reason the disciples remember the scripture, “’Zeal for Your house has eaten Me up’” (Ps. 69.9). The fervor and love shown should remind us of the days of Phinehas, who rose from among the congregation and took a javelin and got rid of sin before Jehovah (Num. 25.7ff). What about our convictions? Are they increasing? Are we getting stronger as time goes by?

When Jesus was praying to the Father in John 17, He showed us how to pray in the midst of a long road . He understood where His authority came from and gave an excellent definition of eternal life. What was that? “And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent” (Jn. 17.3). He prayed for His followers and He understood who they belonged to according to John 17.10. We should keep in the forefront of our minds who we belong to and seek to secure our hearts before God and His beloved Son. Finally, Jesus prayed for the world to receive the word, that they may be one just as the Father and Son are one (Jn. 17.20-23). What a powerful prayer and worthy of our attention and acceptance.

With these few examples of the disciples being astonished by Jesus and seeing His work and labors of love, they could not help but to be encouraged to follow the Lord and keep His word. Perhaps the more we study and read the word of God, we will be encouraged to increase our convictions and trust in the Son and the great God of heaven. Maybe we can learn to develop a genuine trust in God no matter what comes our way. As Paul would say, “For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Phil. 1.21). Following Christ and His work will lead us in the same path He walked and we all know that ended on the cross (John 19.17ff). Let’s seriously consider increasing our convictions in every aspect of life. Let’s learn to love God and His beloved Son daily.

In closing, while we learn to follow the Lord closer and closer everyday, let us sincerely strive to deny ourselves and bring others along with us for the spiritual journey. “Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ” (1 Cor. 11.1). Let’s follow Him in our speech, our daily events and our genuine love and concern for the church of Christ. Are you increasing your conviction while following Jesus? Can you truly see yourself growing in grace as the Bible teaches? Let us transform our lives daily to be more like the Lord. May God bless the 9th & Main church of Christ as we increase our convictions while following Christ.