A SERIES OF DEVOTIONS BASED ON THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MATTHEW 

 FOLLOW JESUS     

Matthew 16:24-27 “Then Jesus said to His disciples, “Whoever wants to be My disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow Me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for Me will find it. What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? For the Son of Man is going to come in His Father’s glory with His angels, and then He will reward each person according to what they have done.” 

As a Christian, you are familiar with the Holy Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Did you know there is an unholy trinity? The unholy trinity is me, myself, and I. Trinity always refers to “three” of something. Unholy describes something that is immoral, impure, sinful. As Christians worship the Holy Trinity, so sinful human beings worship all kinds of gods. One of those false gods is SELF.   

When you put your faith and trust in yourself, you are worshipping me, myself, and I. You come first. You look out for yourself first. You are more important than anyone else. Your needs are most critical. You take care of yourself and others must take care of themselves.

Jesus says in today’s devotional verse that following Him as His disciples means self-denial. It means cross bearing which is another way of saying a disciple of Jesus is willing to suffer because they are His disciple. Rather than strive to “gain the world,” Jesus says, deny its attraction and follow Him instead. 

Jesus promises, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” The Psalmist says that Jesus will lead those who follow Him to green pastures, quiet waters. To those who follow Him the Psalmist concludes, “goodness and mercy shall follow them all the days of their life and they will dwell with (Jesus) forever.” (Portions of Psalm 23) 

Prayer: Jesus, lead me until I am with You in paradise forever. Amen. 

“Come follow Me,” the Savior spake, “All in My way abiding;  
Deny yourselves, the world forsake, Obey My call and guiding.    
O bear the cross, Whate’er betide, Take My example for your guide. 

“I am the light, I light the way, A godly life displaying;  
I bid you walk as in the day; I keep your feet from straying.  
I am the way, and well I show How you must sojourn here below. 

“My heart abounds in lowliness, My soul with love is glowing;  
And gracious words My lips express, With meekness overflowing.  
My heart, My mind, My strength, My all, To God I yield, on Him I call. 

“I teach you how to shun and flee What harms your soul’s salvation,  
Your heart from ev’ry guile to free, From sin and its temptation.  
I am the refuge of the soul And lead you to your heav’nly goal. 

Then let us follow Christ, our Lord, And take the cross appointed  
And, firmly clinging to His Word, In suff’ring be undaunted.  
For those who bear the battle’s strain The crown of heav’nly life obtain.  

"Come Follow Me" The Savior Spake // LSB 688