The Law in 90 Days: Numbers 23-24
SCRIPTURE MEDITATION
John 12:26 (ESV); If anyone serves Me, he must follow Me; and where I am, there will my
servant be also. If anyone serves Me, the Father will honour him.
To “follow Jesus” is not meant to be a cute little phrase relating Christianity to a game of Followthe-
Leader or Simon Says. The ability to follow is a mark of a true disciple. To follow is to have
no say in where you are going. It is the opposite of leading. A faithful follower does not pick and
choose where he will go; he does not avoid a mud puddle, skirt around a hill or lag behind.
To follow Christ is to tread where He treads. The Apostle Paul made a provocative point in
Philippians 3. He asserts that everything he has is garbage compared to knowing Christ. “I
want to know Christ.” he says. Yes! Of course we do! “And I want to know the power of His
resurrection.” By all means! Who wouldn’t want to experience that kind of power?! “And I want
to have fellowship with Him by sharing in His sufferings…” wait a minute! “…even to become
like Him in His death.” Hold it! This isn’t what we signed up for, is it?! Actually, it is. A devoted
disciple will tread wherever Christ treads. Paul goes on to explain why he is sold out to this life
of servitude and discipleship, “that by any means possible I may attain to the resurrection of
the dead.” There is a cost to discipleship. We must follow Him to death if we want to be raised
with Him for eternal glory. Jesus was resurrected and exalted to the right hand of the Father
to receive all glory and all power and all honour and all authority. We, too, have the promise of
resurrection to eternal life. Paul didn’t assume it as a luxury; He strove for it as a longing. Let
us strive to know Christ as intimately as possible that we may have delight on the day of His
coming!
PRAYER and MEDITATION
1. The death we’re talking about is a death to self. How is your selfishness making you the
leader of your life? How does Jesus want you to die to yourself so that the Father can be
exalted?
2. Ask God to speak to you about the eternal value of selflessly following Christ.
3. Ask God to cultivate in you a deeper commitment to Him. Ask Him to lead you closer to
the desire to follow Him at all costs.
