Faithful Followers

Your journey with Jesus is on the pathway of transformation. You are moving from the lordship of self and the influence of culture to a life of companionship with God, a life of learning to depend less on yourself and more and more on God. Along the way you will be tempted to stop growing, to change focus, maybe even to walk away. Read John 6:60-69. Jesus calls his disciples to follow faithfully!

Christian discipleship is in stark contrast to every other way of living. First and foremost discipleship is about God and God’s glory, it’s about transformation, not information, about Christlikeness and not better behavior. Some disciples were troubled by the meaning of Jesus’ words (see John 6:53). When the One who healed the sick, fed the 5,000, and walked on water told these followers he was the bread of life who came down from heaven, many left him. He wasn’t the Messiah they sought and his call to follow him required belief and being consumed by his life.

Jesus doesn’t seek people who follow him for personal or political gain. He is calling people to believe in him, to know him, and to trust him more and more. Those committed to following Jesus understand, embrace, and move forward by the faith God gives to them. I pray that you will grasp what it means to depend on God more and more and be faithful followers as you journey with Jesus. This requires complete trust in God!

Thank you for the love you have shown to me and my family over our many years together. It has been a great joy to serve as a shepherd at Oak Hill. Cindy and I love you and pray God’s richest blessings upon you as you faithful follow and trust in God more and more