WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO FOLLOW JESUS IN THE 21ST CENTURY?

                I have been studying Matthew 4:18-22 this week. In that passage, Jesus called his first disciples. The heart of the matter is found in verses 19 &20. "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men."  At once they left their nets and followed him.

                Reading that passage, following Jesus seemed so simple then. First, it was very literal. He was asking them to actually travel with him. Second, it was very tangible. Jesus was standing before them in bodily form. Third, it was accepted. One of the greatest aspirations of most Jewish young men was to become the disciple of a Rabbi. For the next three years, those men spent time in the presence of Jesus. They listened to him preach. They saw him do miracles. They received private instruction from him. There was little doubt in their minds what it meant to follow Jesus. Granted, they did not understand the full, spiritual implications of it, but they intertwined their lives with Jesus’ life.

                I understand what it means to follow Jesus on a spiritual level. I need to put my faith and trust in Jesus as my Lord and Savior. I need to let him guide my life. I need to listen to his teaching. I can spend time with him through prayer and Bible study. These things are real and important.

                Where the problem comes in is what does that look like in practical terms? Jesus is not physically present today. I cannot literally follow him around like the disciples did. Am I supposed to spend every waking hour of my life in prayer and Bible study? Am I supposed to quit my job and roam around the countryside talking to random groups of people? What does it look like to follow Jesus in the 21^st century?

                I have many questions about the practical application of my faith to my everyday life, but there are a few things that I am pretty sure are included in following Jesus.

                I need to learn as much about Jesus as I can. I am not just talking about facts, but about how Jesus reacts to life, what are his values and principles for living. This does come from studying the Bible and spending time in prayer. I am continually amazed at how God speaks to me through His word. I can read a passage over and over, and then one day a light goes on and Jesus applies it directly to me.

                As I grow in my knowledge of Christ, I need to apply it to my everyday life. I need to learn to make decisions based on Jesus’ values and priorities. I don’t do this perfectly by any means. In fact, I am constantly working to correct, reshape and redirect the inner me.

                True spiritual transformation begins in our soul and is reflected in our character. Before we can start acting differently in our world, we need to be different on the inside. Paul stressed the connection between the outward us and the inward us in Romans 12:1-2.

                Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will.

                Let me try to get practical. Here are a few (just a few) things that we can do to reflect the inner transformation of our soul.

- Worship regularly. Worship of God is not an optional activity for the follower of Jesus. It is essential. This should be done both corporately and individually. Jesus said that the highest priority of our life is to love God. Jesus replied: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' Matthew 22:37 (NIV)

- Connect with other believers. More and more people today are living isolated lives. Technology allows us to live in our own artificial world. Satan rejoices in this. In our world today, we need to work hard at staying connected with others. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching. Hebrews 10:25 (NIV)

- Love others in practical ways. Genuine Christian love is generous, responsive and tangible. There are a multitude of ways that we can show love everyday to the people we encounter. Small acts of kindness make an enormous difference in our world. Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. 1 John 3:18 (NIV)

- Invite others to join you. Many Christians get nervous when we start talking about evangelism. We feel guilty because we are not out knocking on doors trying to save our neighbors. In reality, we need to first develop genuine relationships with people, and then invite them to join us in our journey of faith. Jesus said, come follow me. We can say with Paul, follow me as I follow Christ. I will walk with you. Let’s do it together.

                I guess following Jesus in the 21^st century is not all that different from the 1^st century. We need to be committed to Jesus and love those that he puts into our path. We can still trust Him to lead the way.