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<strong>The Call to Follow Jesus</strong>

The Call to Follow Jesus

Posted on January 13, 2023 Posted By: KBCF Categories: Devotion

Note: This devotional is taken from the 2023 Prayer and Fasting Week.

Day 1

Truth to Ponder

READ: Mark 1:16-20; Luke 19:2-10

In these passages, we saw Jesus calling His first four disciples and Zacchaeus to follow Him, which they did immediately. What are the characteristics of the call of Jesus that led them to follow Him promptly? 

I. It is a convicting call.   
When Jesus called the fishermen to leave their job of being fishermen to become fishers of men, He convicted them to pursue a higher purpose of not merely engaging on the temporal concerns but to that which has eternal value.  
II. It is a compelling call.
The fishermen were compelled to follow Jesus that without hesitation they left their nets and followed Jesus. They had a sense of urgency.  The same is true with Zacchaeus. When Jesus noticed him and said, “Come down, for I must stay at your house today” he responded to the message of Jesus that brought life transformation.
III. It is a compassionate call. 
Jesus saw Zacchaeus and had compassion on him because he was regarded as a sinner and an outcast in the social milieu of the Jewish people. Jesus saw his need for salvation and life transformation.

In 1885 a young British athlete, Charles Thomas Studd, decided to give up his good career, hefty inheritance, and good life in England to face the hardships and dangers of missionary service in China then later in India and for the rest of his life in Africa. What led him to do that?

God spoke to him from II Corinthians 4:17-18  

“For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.” He committed His life to missions saying “Only one life, ’twill soon be past, only what’s done for Christ will last.”

Examine the Word

1. What indicates that the four fishermen had a deep conviction and compulsion to follow Jesus. Why did they act that way?
2. What led Jesus to take notice of and spend time with Zacchaeus?
3. What are the signs that Zacchaeus had transformation and life change?

Personal Application

  1. What are you spending your life on here on earth?
  2. Are you consumed with the temporal matters that you don’t have time to invest your talent, energy, and resources to what has eternal value? Why?
  3. What hinders you from following Jesus fully in your life?

Prayer
Lord Jesus, help me to recognize that life on earth is just a dot compared to unending life in eternity.  Help me to have that eternal perspective and so I can follow you all of my life knowing that I have only one life and soon it will pass and only what’s done for Christ will last.

Prayer Items

 NATION

PHILIPPINES: 10-POINT AGENDA (Points 1&2)

Pray for the Holy Spirit to guide our government on the following agenda for economic renewal and long-term growth.

1. National Reopening: Resume face-to-face classes nationwide and accelerate reopening of travel and the economy to restore and create jobs, and if pandemic shall re-emerge, be quick on vaccine procurement and roll-out.

2. Public-Private Partnership: Encourage private sector engagement and investment for the benefit of the public. Provide legal and regulatory support to public-private partnerships. 

Lift up to the Holy Spirit the specific work of each cabinet member.  Pray for anointing to do the work.

  1. AGRICULTURE SEC.: President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
  2. EDUCATION SEC.: Vice President Sara Duterte
  3. EXEC. SEC.: Lucas Bersamin
  4. FOREIGN AFFAIRS SEC.: Enrique Manalo
  5. FINANCE SEC.: Benjamin Diokno
  6. JUSTICE SEC.: Jesus Crispin Remulla
 FAMILY/HEALTH/PERSONAL BREAKTHROUGHS

Pray God to bless every family, to provide all their needs; Holy Spirit to enable them to achieve breakthroughs in their various concerns.

 KBCF

47 YEARS – Pasalamatan ang Dios:

(Note: Hango sa “Apat na Dekada at Pitong Taon ng KBCF”)

  1. Sa napakayaman na kasaysayan.
  2. Sa samo’t saring karanasang dinaanan
  3. Sa laksang pagsubok na napagtagumpayan
  4. Sa marami-raming suliraning nalampasan

2023 Theme: FOLLOW JESUS

Pray for the Holy Spirit to enable KBCF to pursue its theme: FOLLOW JESUS (Luke 9:23 And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.”)

FOUR (4) PRIORITY AREAS FOR 2023 (Number 1)

Pray for the Holy Spirit to enable KBCF to pursue priority:      
1. MOTIVATION-EQUIPPING–Deepen the spiritual standing of the Church and its members.

FOLLOW THROUGH ON CLEANSING, EDUCATING and EQUIPPING (CEE)

Pray for the Holy Spirit to enable KBCF to follow through its past efforts on CEE:
a. Strengthen leadership (of cell groups, ministries, committees, COL and Council) – to embrace and share accountability in ensuring spiritual health and well being of KBCF
b. Holy Spirit to move to cause church-wide repentance and forgiveness to flow; to use retreats like Bondage Breaker or related programs.