Life isn’t easy, but the weight of life is lighter when Jesus is with us. He is the way, the truth and the light. Jesus demands total surrender and complete submission. He will not settle for a second place in our lives. Jesus encourages us to give up everything and follow Him. BETTY AMUKPO takes on Children on the simplicity of following Jesus. Excerpts:
‘Jesus is the perfect person to follow’
Following Christ is difficult. In fact, without the grace of God, following Jesus would be impossible (Matthew 19:25-26). Following Jesus is difficult because it requires self-discipline and God’s discipline. Life is not easy, but the weight of life is lighter when Jesus is with us. Jesus offered us simple way of life. Love everybody always. Jesus is the perfect person to follow because we find greater peace, joy and happiness in life. Jesus reminds us of the difficulties of following Him. He said in the Book of Matthew 6:14, “The gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life and those who find it are few.” “In all, Jesus has not left us alone in our suffering. Jesus sent His Holy Spirit to dwell with us, to guide us, to comfort us and to pray for us”, (John 14: 16). John 8:12 says, “Jesus is the light of the world, whoever follows me will have the light of life and will never walk in darkness.”
• Anita Chima
‘Following Jesus, though challenging, God’s grace always available’
Following Jesus is simple and easy. Jesus said so. Jesus said: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:29- 30). Jesus tells us that His yoke is easy, and His burden is light. When we learn to trust Him, we find that these words of Jesus are the simple truth. Jesus’ teaching is easy because it’s simple. Love God; love people. But that doesn’t mean we’ll have a trouble-free life. In following Jesus, we’re going to face challenges, but God’s grace is always available for us.
• Josephine Anthony
‘Following Jesus depends on willingness to obey and submit’
oneself to the ordinances of God’s will’ In John 12:26, it is written, “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.” Following Jesus is neither simple nor hard. It depends on our willingness to obey and submit oneself to the ordinances of God’s will and footprint. To do right, there will always be temptations here and there, but if we are determined and faithful in serving the Most High, He will always be there to help us overcome the temptations. It has to come from us. It has to be a conscious and intentional effort or choice to follow Jesus. With that, God will always be there to lighten our burden. Following Jesus is neither simple nor hard.
• Victoria Okefe
‘No, no, it’s not an easy road’
In my understanding, following Jesus is not easy, because Jesus reminds me of the difficulty of following Him saying that, “The gate is narrow and the way that leads to life is hard, and those who find it are few” (Matthew 7:14). As I open to (1corinthians 10:11-12), it is a reminder as we study the life of David. Following God is hard, it is not easy, His presence gives us joy every day, we’ll rest in peace over there. No, no, it is not an easy road.
• Stephen Victory
‘To follow Christ is to follow His footsteps’
To follow Christ means we apply the truth, we learn from His word and live as if Jesus walked beside us in person. It also means to be a good disciple and follow His footsteps. When we follow Jesus, we grow stronger and become more like Him. Bible verses you should study about following Christ: • John 8:31-38 • Acts 1:8 • Matthew 28:16-20 • Romans 10:14-17.
• Sandra Ojimmadu
‘Following Jesus means giving up worldly comfort’
Following Christ is not just going to Church and reading the Bible. To follow him means to give him undivided affection. In Matthew 8:18-22, Jesus explained to His disciples that following Him means giving up worldly comfort. “Everyone who want to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted”, says 2 Timothy 3:12. In John 16:3, Jesus said, “in Me you will have peace, in the world you will have tribulations, but take heart l have overcome the world.” To follow Jesus is to become like Him. it’s not always easy. Nothing is simple.
• Nnadikwe Favour
‘We need to serve Him without looking back’
Sometimes, following Christ can be downright difficult. In Matthew 10:34-39, Jesus stated clearly what it means to follow Him. He said, “I didn’t come to give peace, but a sword, for I have come to turn a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household, the ones who love their father, mother, son, daughter, sister and brother more than me is not worthy of Me.” Whoever does not take up their cross and follow is not worthy of Me. Whoever finds their life will lose it, and Whoever loses their lives for My sake will find it. As a child of God, we need to serve Him without looking back because (One with God is always with majority).
• Umennadi Francis Chibunna
‘It can be challenging in terms of the sacrifices He requires of His followers’
Following Jesus may be straightforward in terms of the message of love, salvation and redemption that He preached. However, it can also be challenging in terms of the sacrifices and commitments that He requires of His followers. It is written in Matthew 16:24: “Then Jesus said to his disciples, whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.” This verse emphasises that following Jesus involves self-denial and sacrifice. Jesus reiterated this statement in Luke 9:23: “Then he said to them all: ‘Whoever wants to be My disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.” This verse emphasises that following Jesus is not a one-time decision, but a daily commitment. In Matthew 22:37-40, Jesus said, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” This is the first and greatest commandment.
And the second commandment states: “Love your neighbour as yourself.” All the Laws and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” This verse emphasises that following Jesus involves not only individual devotion, but also a commitment to love and serve others. John 15:18-19 states, “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated Me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.” This verse emphasises that following Jesus may involve persecution and rejection from the world. In summary, while following Jesus involves a simple message of love and salvation, it also involves challenges and commitments that may not always be easy or comfortable.
• Blossom Akalezi
