Do you admire Jesus or are you committed to follow him, no matter what?
“Whenever Jesus taught, something happened in the hearts of a few of them that went way beyond admiration. For some, while Jesus was talking their hearts started pounding; their minds started racing. Something deep inside them said, “This is it. This is what I’ve been longing for my whole life … to have my sins forgiven and my life cleansed of the sin and mess … to know God … to have courage … to have a life beyond the constant worry, fear and anxiety … to not be a slave anymore to sexual desire, or money, or people’s approval, or success … to be a part of God’s work in this world in my own little way … to have confidence beyond death. I must have this!
I would rather have what this Man has, and give up everything else in the world, than to have everything else in the world, and give up Him. Therefore I will pay any price; I will do whatever He wants me to do. I will go wherever He tells me to go. I will be whatever He says I should be. I am leaving the crowd … I am not just an admirer; I will be a follower of Jesus. I will live my life as a passionate follower of this man …
The crowd admired Jesus; but every once in a while someone wakes up and crosses the line and says, “I will follow.””
-John Ortberg
Coventry Vineyard Blog 