by Rev Steve Nickodemus

Following Jesus…

You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking on this SoundCloud link.

“If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you?  You follow Me.”
John 21:22

Whenever we go hiking, on established trails, there is always evidence that some people have been tempted to take shortcuts, or excursions, from the main trail. There is a worn path that leads away from where the hiker is directed to go. Often these errant trails lead to soil erosion and damage to plants.

The temptation for the follower of Christ is to leave the Way and to go where they want to go, not where the Lord wants them to go. Perhaps this happens because they have seen others take “shortcuts” in the faith, or perhaps it is just because they have wandered off after, what my old pastor used to call, “the treasures and pleasures” of this life.

This leaving God’s way always leads to damage…damage of the believer’s relationship with God, and damage of their relationships with others. Jesus sees Peter in the above story tempted to be jealous of his fellow disciple John…to be led astray by comparing his walk with his fellow disciple.

Jesus’ answer for Peter, and His answer for you and me, is the same: “Follow Me!” Never mind the other guy, the other way, or the other trail. “Follow Me!” says Jesus.

This is not because our Lord Jesus is a killjoy. It is because Jesus has opened the way to the Father through His suffering and death, the payment for our sins, and He knows that the only way to eternal life is by following Him.

Have you veered from the trail? Have you wandered down destructive paths away from the Savior? Call out to Him! He will rescue you, and bring you back to Him, to Life, and to peace with Him.

Then He will gently say to you, “Stay on the trail. I love you.”

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, CO