Following Jesus – Part 2

If you didn’t read part one (1) of my ‘Following Jesus’ series, check it out here, first!

Part 2 is my own personal story of faith and following Jesus. This one was emotional to write, but I believe personal stories are sometimes a great ‘introduction’ to Jesus.

Matthew 18:3 – And said, verily I say unto you, except ye be converted , and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. KJV Hebrews 11:1 – Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. KJV
Hebrews 11:6 – But without faith, it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.

When I was growing up, we went to church every Sunday and my mama talked about Jesus often. She would remind us that even though we were poor, the Lord would never leave us and He would always provide for us. In fact, she told us that He was our daddy.

You see, my earthly daddy wasn’t a part of my life. My mama played the role of mama and daddy on earth – she kissed our boo boos, she fixed our meals, she helped us with homework, gave us baths, washed our clothes, worked, she fixed cars, she did it all. The Lord was with her (us) every step of the way. He has never left us.

I believed her. I trusted her. That’s what children do with a loving parent, right? In their innocence, they trust wholeheartedly. If she said Jesus was my daddy, that was just so.

While I trusted and believed her, it was the summer I was seven years old, the first time I can remember developing a real understanding of Jesus.

We lived a couple of streets over from a church and I remember my twin brother and I, along with some of our friends, walking over to the church for Vacation Bible school (VBS). We spent that week making crafts, singing songs, playing games, eating snacks, and learning about Jesus in ways that we could grasp.

We learned that Jesus was God’s son and that He was sent to Earth to save us from our sins. We learned that He loved us before He knit us together in our mother’s womb (Psalm 139:13-14). We learned that He chose us and He wants us to choose Him too. We learned about what faith was – trusting in what you hope for even when you can’t see it. And I personally learned what our mama meant about Him being our daddy.

On the last day of VBS that summer, the leaders asked us if Jesus was somebody we would want to follow. If Jesus was someone we’d want to live in us and us in Him.

I was a little girl without a daddy. And my little heart hoped for a daddy; but there wasn’t one I could physically see. I recalled my mama always saying Jesus was our daddy, so that day it was a simple ‘yes’ for me. I wanted to follow Jesus, because I had faith that He was my daddy. That He loved me, and cared about what happened to me. I couldn’t see Him, but I believed in Him.

Over the years, He has shown me who He is. I always believed He was who He said He was (and who my mama said He was), and He has consistently revealed deep levels of this truth to me. We’ll dive into more of these stories throughout my future posts.

Jesus tells us in Matthew 18:3, He wants us to come to Him as little children (innocent, trusting, expectant), the same as I did many years ago. The same as the first disciples did. When we come to Him in this way, we are exercising faith. Believing in something we hope for, but cannot see. And that, my friend, is the only way to please Him. To have faith in Him.

He will show you who He is.

He is asking you to follow Him, will you?

Lord – please help us to come to You as little children, trusting that You are who You say You are. I know once we do, You will affirm our choice by then showing us what we believe is true. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Join me next time, as I continue this series and discuss what the cost of following Jesus really is.

God bless you this week!

Joanie