Followers Need What The World Cannot Give

 YouTube Channel Video Devo

https://youtu.be/dCWt1Mnbjk4?si=fZsNkPntMV9N3r5A

“Followers Need What The World Cannot Give”

Matthew 4:23-25 NIV

Jesus went through Galilee, teaching in the synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people.  News about him spread all over Syria, and people brought to him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed; and he healed them.  Large crowds from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea and the region across the Jordan followed him.

 

I was just reading this passage recently and 4 words stuck out to me: Large crowds followed him.  As I read these words, I thought about how Jesus went so many places and touched so many lives.  This drew large crowds because He was doing something totally different from the norm.  He was doing life different than anyone had ever seen.  He had followers, but not followers like we might see today. 

 

When we think of followers today, we think of social media and how so many of us want people to see our tweets and posts and to like them and comment.  We often tend to want to draw people’s attention to ourselves because we want to be noticed.  Jesus had followers, but it was because He was doing something different and people were drawn to what He had to offer.  The followers were craving someone that the world couldn’t give them.

 

I think about people who follow my posts online and all who read the inspirational posts and the devos I write.  I hope that all who follow what I write will be blessed and come to know God through something I share.  I am so very grateful and honored that God has used me all these years to share devotional thoughts with others to hopefully inspire and bring hope.  If you’re reading this, I thank you for taking time to read and hopefully you’re inspired to grow more in your relationship with God.

 

Who do we follow in life?  Do we want to know Christ more and share His light more?  If we have people who look up to us, I hope that we would want them to see God through us no matter what we are doing.  For years, my kids have followed a lot of what my wife and I do.  I hope and pray they have come to know God’s love in a powerful way through us in how we raised them. 

 

Just think, if we live our lives in the way of Christ, people will take notice and people will want to know why you live like you do.  They may follow your lead and do things you do if you are following Christ.  If so, do your best to follow God and be an example to them.  This was a huge prayer of the Apostle Paul.  He wanted people to follow his example as he strove to follow God’s example. 

 

Who do you follow and who follows you?  Let’s pray that anyone who follows us is able to see the light of Christ shine through us.

Lord, We Ask, We Seek, We Pray

 Youtube Channel Video Devo

https://youtu.be/M1qCrScaPF4?si=6hpp-JtXf_p7TCDx

“Lord, We Ask, We Seek, We Pray”

Matthew 7:7 NIV

Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.  For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

 

One of my favorite songs we play and sing at church now is “Ask, Seek, Pray” by River Valley Worship.  I remember one of the first Sundays we played this on praise team and it totally captured my heart.  The more and more we sing and play this song, it’s such a powerful song.  This past Sunday at church, as I was playing drums to this song, it was one of the most powerful moments for me as I played.  It became such a powerful prayer and time of worship.

 

I wanted to share the bridge of the song with you:

 

Pour out Your Spirit on our praise
Come let revival fill this place
Stir up our faith for greater things
Lord, we ask, we seek, we pray

All this to lift up and proclaim
Jesus Christ, the highest name
Send us Your power, light the flame
Lord, we ask, we seek, we pray

 

Every time I think about these words, I’m just blown away at the majestic anthem it is!  It is such a powerful proclamation.  Think about these words.  We are asking the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts and the place we worship.  We are asking Him to move in a very mighty way.  It’s so powerful!  I think of the encounters people had throughout Scripture where they were totally overcome with the power of God. 

 

Friends, if you’re not familiar with this song, I invite you to find it on YouTube and listen to the powerful words in this song.  It’s just such a powerful time of worship listening to it, singing it and taking the words in as we come to the Throne of God. 

 

The words I’ve shared here are powerful as we ask God to stir up our faith, send us His power and light a huge flame so that we can shine bright for Him.

 

Are we asking, seeking and praying?  Are we asking God to totally fill us?  Are we seeking Him with all we are?  Are we praying earnestly for Him to light a flame in our hearts to praise and serve Him?  I hope so. 

 

This song has inspired me to ask, seek, and knock more often so that I can encounter God in new and powerful ways.

 

Lord, we ask, we seek, we pray!