Are We Truly Following Jesus?

Meditation from Luke Chapter 5

If we are to truly follow Jesus we need to be willing to pay the cost. In many places in the gospels we read about Jesus sharing about the cost to follow Him. This chapter, which talks about the first set of disciples who began to follow Jesus, teaches us the signs of truly following Jesus.

1.      Let Him have everything: “He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon…” (Luke 5:3).

Until we come to Jesus or surrender our lives to Jesus, we think everything of us belongs to us. But when we begin to follow Him, everything belongs to Him. If we truly follow Him, we will let God have everything – our body, time, resources, relationships, possessions, etc. When we follow Him, He becomes the Owner and we His stewards!

2.      Obedience to His Word: “…Yet if you say so…” (5:5)

God’s word is the first and the final word. We will live and act only according to His word, will and ways. A complete surrender to His will. The Carpenter who taught the fisherman to fish, is the Architect of the Universe! He knows everything!!

3.      Open (truthful / transparent) heart & life: “for I am a sinful man” (5:8)

It is surprising to see that Simon acknowledges his sinfulness after experiencing a great success. The success did not blind him to who he was, but he was truthful before Jesus. When we are truthful to God, we will be truthful to people as well.

4.      Follow to be followed: “so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon… they left everything and followed him” (5:10, 11)

Jesus called Simon, but his partners also followed Him. His friends and business partners became Jesus’ partners like Simon. If we truly follow Jesus, people with us will also follow Him. Through our life and influence we also will bring our kith and kin to follow Jesus and not follow the world.

5.      Leave everything: “…they left everything and followed him” (5:11) “And he got up, left everything, and followed him.” (5:28)

To follow Jesus is to not hold, but to give up everything. Especially to give up everything that holds us from truly following Jesus and His will & ways. Jesus said in Luke 14:33, “…none of you can become my disciple if you do not give up all your possessions.”

6.      Wanting / Working for His glory: “Then Levi gave a great banquet for him in his house” (5:29)

Levi who was a tax collector, who in Jesus’ times were known for collecting through extortion becomes extravagant (gracious). He invites people for a ‘great banquet’. He has already left everything, then why this banquet? He wants people to know Jesus! Levi seeks Jesus’ glory and this is evident in two ways – one, his transformed life and two, the desire for his people to come to know Jesus.

Let us Follow Jesus by showing Him through our life & influence, be Obedient to His word, Let Him have everything, Leave everything that hinders us from following Him, be Open & truthful in our heart & life and Work for His glory!