Fear of Following

Our All-Powerful God

Our God is sovereign; He is almighty, all-powerful, and always in complete control. Textual questions for Isaiah 40: How does God compare with the nations, the world, great people, and the stars (v12ff)? How do our thoughts about God need to change (v25)? Our thoughts about ourselves need to change (v27)? And our thoughts about God’s power need to change (v28)? Where have you seen God’s power at work in this world? In you? In your salvation?

Our All-Knowing God

God’s omniscience is hard for our earthly minds to comprehend. In fact, AI and the world’s supercomputers do not even come close to the all-knowing God. He knows everything about everyone and everything for all-time, which includes you and your needs now. In fact, He even knows you personally in His Son! Bask in that knowledge today.

Freedom to Serve

Christian freedom rightly used in love and vocation

I Am His Story: Madison

Madison was feeling anxious and worried. She wondered if it would make a difference if she spent time in God’s Word. She chose to spend one year reading God’s Word each day and memorizing a passage of scripture each month. Phil 4:4-9 was especially meaningful to her.

Fear of Following

Jesus doesn’t call disciples to “Follow their feelings,” nor to “follow culture and the crowd,” nor to “follow their own dreams and desires.” Rather, Jesus summons Matthew and us to “Follow Me.” Jesus’ call can elicit fear in us, as Matthew’s eyes indicate in Caravaggio’s first painting The Calling of St. Matthew. Lord, You’re calling me? (Implied lump in the throat) Did Matthew follow? Did he leave his fears behind? Oh yes, and he held a great banquet to celebrate Jesus’ marvelous grace! Jesus is calling right here, right now? How will we respond to His gracious call? Textual questions to ponder: 1. Jesus called Levi—whom we know as Matthew—to leave his comfortable and prosperous life as a tax-collector. What is Jesus asking you to leave behind? Why does that bring fear? 2. “Levi got up, left everything and followed him.” (Luke 5:28) Why would anyone in their right mind do something like this? 3. What would your life look like if you answered Christ’s call to follow him? What is holding you back?