“And they follow me.”

Everyday I spend time reading devotionals. I always enjoy reading Charles Spurgeon who was a preacher in the 1800’s. I once read that he preached to over 25,000 people at one time with out using a microphone. When I am doing a God’s Love Outreach Ministry program I need to use a microphone unless it is in a very small room. What attracted me to Charles Spurgeon is his love for Christ. I am impressed how as I am reading what he has written so many years ago I can understand it today. That is also true about the Bible.

Now in this devotional Charles Spurgeon references the Bible verse, John 10:27 My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. I thought what would be interesting would be to see how I understand this devotional and share it with you.

[We should follow our Lord as unhesitatingly as sheep follow their shepherd, for he has a right to lead us wherever he pleases. We are not our own, we are bought with a price-let us recognize the rights of the redeeming blood.]

As humans I believe one statement that is so very hard to overcome is “we are not our own.” A lot of us will fight that probably to the end, but I found it to be a very true statement. Especially now, that I have given control to Christ. I remember the hymn “where He leads me I will follow! Yep!

[The soldier follows his captain, the servant obeys his master, much more must we follow our Redeemer, to whom we are a purchased possession. We are not true to our profession of being Christians, if we question the bidding of our Leader and Commander.]

How true that last sentence is. In the Bible the book of Matthew chapter 4 Jesus saw two brothers Peter and Andrew. In verse 19 Jesus said, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” So what did they do? They immediately dropped their nets and followed Jesus!

[Submission is our duty. Often might our Lord say to us as to Peter, “What is that to thee? Follow thou me.” Wherever Jesus may lead us, he goes before us. If we know not where we go, we know with whom we go. With such a companion, who will dread the perils of the road?]

The hymn “What a Friend We Have in Jesus” is ringing in my head right now. All our sins and grief’s He bares for sure. Yet so many question to follow.

[The journey may be long, but his everlasting arms will carry us to the end. The presence of Jesus is the assurance of eternal salvation, because he lives, we shall live also. We should follow Christ in simplicity and faith, because the paths in which he leads us all end in glory and immortality. It is true they may not be smooth paths-they may be covered with sharp flinty trials, but they lead to the “city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.”]

In the program that The God’s Love Outreach Ministry presents during this month of September, there is within one presentation called “Sharing Thoughts.” It is filled with great sayings and the one that comes to mind after reading the paragraph above is “God doesn’t guarantee a calm passage, only a safe landing!”

[“All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth unto such as keep his covenant.” Let us put full trust in our Leader, since we know that, come prosperity or adversity, sickness or health, popularity or contempt, his purpose shall be worked out, and that purpose shall be pure, unmingled good to every heir of mercy. We shall find it sweet to go up the bleak side of the hill with Christ; and when rain and snow blow into our faces, his dear love will make us far more blest than those who sit at home and warm their hands at the world’s fire. To the top of Amana, to the dens of lions, or to the hills of leopards, we will follow our Beloved.]

Mark 4:39 And He awakened and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, Peace! Be still! And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. I am amazed as I was reading the story of Jesus in the boat with His disciples, how they were so afraid. Jesus was in the boat with them and still they were afraid.

[Precious Jesus, draw us, and we will run after thee.]

Amen, amen, amen!

From God’s heart, to mine, to yours,
Ed Shagott