Thursday, August 18, 2016

August 19, 2016

"After this many of his disciples quit following him and did not accompany him any longer. So Jesus said to the twelve, “You don’t want to go away too, do you?”  Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom would we go?" John 6:66-68

When Jesus was handing out the free fish and bread, they were turning out by the thousands and following Him like puppy dogs. But when He began asking some difficult things from them, then they shuffled off to Bethlehem.

After Jesus had watched the mass exodus of former followers He turned to address the Twelve with these haunting words,"You don't want to go away too, do you?"

The three-fold answer Peter gave in response to Jesus' query is a powerful statement to anyone who might thinking about "unfollowing" as he was at the time. I will be sharing this three-fold rationale for not unfollowing Jesus when you feel like you want to.

Peter's answer to Jesus' questioning of the strength of his commitment was spot on! 

"Lord, to whom would we go?"

If you choose to walk away from Jesus and unfriend Him where would you go?

Really! Where would you go?

I love hamburgers. I once thought there was nothing more delicious that a hamburger fresh off the grill! That was before I tasted a steak and now I can't go back to hamburger! I won't unfollow a sirloin for a cheeseburger anymore!

Where can I go once I know about steak? I sure can't go back to being satisfied with cheeseburgers!

Before they began following Jesus they were fishermen working in their family business. It was good honest work but it was hard and tedious and dangerous. Could they leave Jesus for that? Would that be satisfactory?

You have been there and so have I!

Those difficult moments. Those disillusioning moments. Those discouraging moments. Those moments when unfollowing Jesus looks more appealing than continuing to follow Him.

We will be there again!

Perhaps you are there now.

What do you do?

Do what Peter did before you decide to unfollow Jesus. Take a moment, let your emotions settle and take a moment to seriously consider, "Lord, to whom would I go?"

What option is there to following Jesus after you have known the joy of following Him?

Where do you go if you unfollow Him? Where does that take you?

If you choose to unfollow Jesus there will come a time when you will regret it. If you know there will be a time you will regret unfollowing Jesus, why do it?

What if in those desperate moments when unfollowing looks like a better option you choose as Peter chose, recommit to following Him. When you feel like getting out get back in!