Why Do You Follow Jesus?

I had been thinking the other day about the last time that i had really sought to look into the face of Christ and commune with Him. I had realized that i missed Him...the Person, and that in all my praying and counseling and reading and living, i hadn't thought about Him in a love relationship kind of a way in a while. And, it made me have to answer the question, "Why do i follow Jesus?"

We know from the gospels that there were many people who followed Jesus for the things that He could do FOR them. As Oswald Chambers writes of this in My Utmost for His Highest as he said that we can "Seek His Hand rather than His Face..." And, i had to examine my own heart and search out why i seek Him. Have i prayed and read the Word and served with Jesus in clear view? Has my main passion in all of my Christian living been a deeper desire to KNOW Jesus better?

Well, in Acts 8 there was this guy named Simon...and, he was a sorcerer. But he, like the rest of Samaria, put their faith in Christ and got baptized through Philips ministry of Word and Power. But his true heart was revealed when Peter and John came down from Jerusalem and laid hands on these new believers. With their reception of the Holy Spirit, Simon offers money so that he too could have the power to give give the Holy Spirit to others. Peter rebukes him harshly declaring that his heart was full of bitterness and sin and in need of forgiveness and freedom. Simon's heart was revealed...he was more interested in signs and wonders and the amazing power of the Holy Spirit than He was Jesus Christ Himself, and that was a problem in serious need of repentance! How did his story end? We are not told. But, it is not too late for any of us to repent of our idolatry today.

Why do i seek Jesus? Why do i serve Jesus? If it's not out of love to know Him more, than i've missed the mark. Was Peter too harsh on poor Simon, after all, he was a brand new believer? Shouldn't we expect some baggage and not be too hard on him so early on? No, God wanted to expose his heart (discipline) so that he could repent and be healed!

O that i would heed Peter's words to Simon personally and that i wouldn't be afraid to boldly declare them to others when i see a similar condition. Father, let me not be too soft on myself or others who believe and may even be baptized, but who need to repent of the idolatry of following Jesus for what He can do for ME rather than for HIM alone! Keep me on a short leash and let me know when my heart becomes distracted by other things. And, give me a clean/pure heart that seeks You for You, and not what you can do for me. So, why do you follow Jesus? Get alone with Him and allow Him to show you...He desires to love you and forgive you and set you free if something else has come between the two of you.

Created over 2 years ago