Bible Reading: 1 Samuel 17, 18; Luke 11:1-27
Memory Verse: “He that is not with me is against me: and he that gathereth not with me scattereth.” Luke 11:23 KJV.
Jesus said in Luke 11:23 (KJV), “He that is not with me is against me: and he that gathereth not with me scattereth.” You are either for Jesus or against Him as He said above. If you are engaged in anything against the will of Jesus, then you are against Him.
But what does it take to be with Jesus? Firstly, you must accept Him as your Lord and Saviour (Titus 1:4). This means being ready to deny yourself and follow Him by obeying his words (Matthew 16:24). It is interesting to note that Jesus gives a new beginning to anyone who is willing to follow Him. He forgives all your sins as long as you confess them to Him and accept His lordship in your life. Acts 3:19 (KJV) says, “Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;” Thus you become a new being as if you have not committed any offence before. The bible says in 2 Corinthians 5:17 (KJV), “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.“
Secondly, it is expected that you will no longer commit any sin going forward. You may not be able to do this by yourself. However the Holy Spirit, who is our teacher and comforter will guide you on all issues.
Thirdly, you cannot be a true follower of Jesus Christ if you do not know Him. One of the best ways to know him is by studying the word of God. He is the word ( John 1:1-4;14). You have to study the Bible to know His ways and obey the precepts contained in it. In addition, you need to worship Him regularly so that you get to know Him and His voice. The more you communicate with someone, the better you understand him. The same applies to Jesus Christ. You need to communicate with Him through praise, worship, thanksgiving and prayers for you to be accustomed to him. When you do this, he will also get used to you and speak with you directly whenever he wants to pass any message across.
Being with Jesus also implies sharing your experience with Him to win others to Him. This gladdens the heart of Jesus Christ. Jesus said in Luke 15:7 (KJV), “I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.” The consequences of not being with Jesus is too enormous that it is better to ensure we align with Him ( John 3:17-18).
Action Point: Are you with Jesus? If not, take the necessary step to accept Him as your Lord and Saviour today.
Bro. Biodun Oyapero