March 24, 2023

Come Follow Me

Read: UMH 206 "I Want to Walk as a Child of the Light"

It is a well-known story. Jesus, following his temptation in the wilderness and walking along the shore of the Galilean lake, called to two fishermen, brothers Simon and Andrew. "Come with me, and I will make you fish for people.” Continuing along the shore, Jesus called two more disciples, brothers James and John, also fishermen. I clearly remember, as a youngster in Sunday School, how enthusiastically we sang the children's song "I Will Make You Fishers of Men," as well as “Jesus Loves the Little Children.” The meaning of these two Sunday School songs has remained with me all my life. I think of them often, which leads me to the present day and what it means to be a disciple of Jesus Christ here and now.

We as Christians follow in Jesus' footsteps, and pattern our lives after his. Discipleship takes specific forms according to the work each has been asked to do. This work goes on all the time and everywhere. Jesus was a teacher of God, not a teacher of the world's values. And so, his disciples are also teachers of God. One might ask, "Who are they?" I have every confidence that a teacher of God is anyone who chooses to be one – the sole qualification. Jesus did not seek only holy persons, but called ordinary folk out making a living, including a despised tax collector. Contemporary disciples come from all over the world and from every walk of life. Somehow, somewhere, they saw a light in the darkness. Further, they decided that the well-being of others was not apart from their own. The world's belief system, founded on the idea of separation (and consequent separate interests), does not honor or even acknowledge the oneness of God's creation and the fact that God is not absent from any aspect of it.

A few characteristics of God's teachers are faithfulness and trust, open-mindedness, tolerance, forgiveness, generosity, and the joy of knowing who and Whose we are. Only false beliefs about ourselves assert that we have no role to play in God's plan.

Jesus, referring to himself, said: "While I am in the world I am the light of the world" (John 9:5). And in the Sermon on the Mount he tells us: "You are the light of the world.” In Ephesians 5 we read: "Live as children of light, since light produces everything that is good and righteous and true." And from 1 Thessalonians 5: "You are all children of light, children of day. We do not belong to night or darkness." In order to see clearly we must realize that light is within us, not without. It is what makes spiritual vision possible, and this is what will guide us as we take our place among the followers of Jesus Christ. This vision will correct the perception of everything and everyone we see, looking past all illusions, which are unknown in Heaven. Let us not forget this foundational truth: "God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. If we walk in the light as He Himself is in the light, then we share a common life" (1 John 1). This light attracts as nothing of the world can.

So for this Lenten journey and all the days beyond, may we be blessed in all our doings. God turns to us to help save a weary and worn world. For this world indeed stands in need of grace, and awaits the blessing we bring from Him. His Voice is heard around the world as we choose to be the means to bring it. Would we not do this for Jesus' sake, and for our own? Let the light of holiness be our constant guide, and the strength of Christ will prevail in all we think and say and do. "Choose this day whom you will serve... as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord" (Joshua 24:15).

Prayer: Dear God, Creator and Sustainer eternal, our beloved Lord Jesus, through his supreme example in times long past, revealed the way to serve you. The need seems even greater in this age. The call to serve has never ceased. We trust our ways to You, and ask Your will in everything we do. We are Your completion and your love. And so, with grateful hearts, we can but say "Amen."

Doug Dykstra