Following Jesus

as someone who has responded to the Good News (the Gospel) that Jesus taught. What is that Good News? It is about something he called “the Kingdom of God”—the state of affairs where things are done in the way the Creator intended. Jesus said that this Kingdom came into the world in a special way when God sent him into the world—in effect, that he was the King of this Kingdom.

The God who doesn’t give up

God in love has not given up on our world, with all its hurt and folly and wars. Rather, in spite of all appearances to the contrary, God is at work to put things right, to shape a world where all pain and self-centeredness is done away with. And God invites humans everywhere to be part of this new thing he is doing in the world.

How do you become a follower of Jesus, then? Jesus used two old-fashioned-sounding words to describe it: “repent” and “believe.” Repent means to turn away from one thing, and believe means to turn towards something else—a 180 degree change, as if we set off walking west and then turned right around and started heading east. Another word for turning around like this is conversion. For some people, that turning around is sudden, but for others it takes a long time.

Changing the scenery

So what does that journey in a new direction look like? As you might expect, it means a complete change of view. (After all, if you were heading west, you would have been walking towards the sunset; now, facing east, you’re heading towards the sunrise.) Before, it meant I was living my life as though it belonged to me. Now I realize that it is a gift from the Creator.

Before, it meant setting the priorities of my life according to what I thought was important. Now it means learning what God’s priorities for my life are. Before, I could be as selfish as I wanted to be. Now I am learning to serve God and others. The changes are huge.

Well, yes. Jesus never said it would be easy. He was very clear that in some ways it would feel like a death, and any experienced Christian will tell you that following him is often difficult. But the good news is that in following Jesus, you are actually learning to follow the Creator’s way, which means you’re learning to live your life with the grain of the universe, not against it.

In the end that means experiencing what Jesus called “life in all its fullness” —becoming the person that you were created to be, and doing what you were made to do—and in the company of the God who made you and who loves you.

(Excerpted from an article published in October, 2011 by John Bowen, Professor Emeritus of Evangelism, Wycliffe College, Toronto. (https://www.wycliffecollege.ca/users/john-bowen)

Join a lively conversation exploring a Bible passage. Question, wrestle, laugh, & share around a table at the church or on Zoom. Gain new perspectives on the world. Encounter Jesus. Grow your faith. These conversations run about 90 minutes. No Bible-knowledge required. On this journey, we’re all beginners. Check the Announcements or email the Office to join the next Conversation.

Praying is just like talking with a friend. God wants us to know him, hear his voice, and engage with him in every part of life. Pray alone. And find friends to pray with:

• At an evening Healing Service
• During quiet time in the Sanctuary to Sit, Think, Pray
• On a neighbourhood Prayer Walk
• In a visit with an Elder or Pastor

Speak with the God-Who-Hears! Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God your needs & don’t forget to thank him for his answers. (Philippians 4:6)