And He said, "Come."
Following Jesus has felt like death. Well, like dying. The whole notion of trying to “follow” has, over this past year, been my equivalent to dying. Every day, when I am choosing to follow Jesus, I am continually having to die to some part of me. My desires, wants, urges, etc. are all things that I am battling til death and trying to kill off so that I can truly follow. I even pray that these things that shackle me, or the sin that captivates me will be put to death.
Yet, as I learn to follow, and grow towards being able to, a funny thing happens. While I am continually having to die to myself, Jesus overwhelms me with life. From my perspective over this last year, the art of following Jesus has felt a lot like death, but the utter beauty that is Jesus replaces death with life. Real, life.
As I fight and struggle, believing that it is only by my efforts that I can be clean, Jesus intervenes. The true art of following Jesus is simple. Follow Jesus. Over and over again I allow myself to believe that following Jesus comes with so many rules, and all the while Jesus reminds me that He is asking me to do one thing: follow. I am sinful, broken, and feel that I have way too much baggage to even begin. But Jesus asks me to drop my baggage and begin to follow Him, as He restores and washes me clean.
