I was reading in my devotional the other day on what it means when Jesus told His disciples, 'Follow Me'.
Here is the devotional:
"Jesus answered him, 'Where I am going you cannot follow me now, but you shall follow me afterward' " (John 13:36).
And when He had spoken this, He said to him, 'Follow Me' " (John 21:19). Three years earlier Jesus had said, "Follow Me" (Matthew 4:19), and Peter followed with no hesitation. The irresistible attraction of Jesus was upon him and he did not need the Holy Spirit to help him do it. Later he came to the place where he denied Jesus, and his heart broke. Then he received the Holy Spirit and Jesus said again, "Follow Me" (John 21:19). Now no one is in front of Peter except the Lord Jesus Christ. The first "Follow Me" was nothing mysterious; it was an external following. Jesus is now asking for the internal sacrifice and yielding (see 21:18).
Between these two times Peter denied Jesus with oaths and curses (see Matthew 26:69-75). But then he came completely to the end of himself and all of his self-sufficiency. There was no part of himself he would ever rely on again. In his state of destitution, he was finally ready to receive all that the risen Lord had for him. "…He breathed on them, and said to them, 'Receive the Holy Spirit' " (John 20:22). No matter what changes God has performed in you, never rely on them. Build only on a Person, the Lord Jesus Christ, and on the Spirit He gives.
All our promises and resolutions end in denial because we have no power to accomplish them. When we come to the end of ourselves, not just mentally but completely, we are able to "receive the Holy Spirit." "Receive the Holy Spirit"–the idea is that of invasion. There is now only One who directs the course of your life, the Lord Jesus Christ.
My Thoughts:
Matthew 4:19 when Jesus says to His disciples, 'Follow Me' — Peter followed with no hesitation.
*Could it be at that time he was following, it was in a position of a 'student'? -One who is willing to listen to His Words.
John 21:19 when Jesus says again to him (Peter), 'Follow Me' — it was after Peter denied Him three times.
*Could this be, when Peter is finally ready and there's no part of himself to rely on, that he becomes Jesus' true 'disciple'? -One who is willing to walk in His Steps.
It's one thing to be a student, and another to be a disciple. With the Word, one can choose to learn and therefore have knowledge – mostly 'head' knowledge. As for another, or even the same knowledge-filled individual, they can choose to lay down their life that so often they rely on, and fully build on Jesus Christ and His glorious Kingdom.
What we know as comfort, may very well not turn out to be comfort at all. True comfort comes from within, the place the Spirit lives and dwells. Out of that will flow Living water, never stagnant and will always be on the course that He directs and guides.
Changes can happen once, building and growing in that change…that can go on until we meet with Him for eternity!
I wanted to finish this blog with an encouraging scripture that should be in our hearts each and every day!
Let the word spoken by Christ have its home in your hearts and minds and dwell in you in all its richness, as you teach and admonish and train one another in all insight and intelligence and wisdom in spiritual things, and as you sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, making melody to God with His grace in your hearts. And whatever you do no matter what it is in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus and in dependence upon His Person, giving praise to God the Father through Him. Colossians 3:16,17
