Matthew 5-7 – October 9

There are those that will follow the supernatural, spectacular, and exciting, and there is those that desire to follow Jesus’ leadership to the fullest. In the end of Matthew chapter 4 and the beginning of 5 we see two different kinds of “followers” of Jesus Christ. Matthew 4:25 says “there followed him great multitudes” after it says in verse 24, “they brought to Him all sick people who were afflicted with various diseases and torments, and those who were demon-possessed, epileptics, and paralytics; and He healed them.” Then in Matthew 5:1 it says, “Seeing the multitudes, He went up on a mountain, and when He was seated His disciples came to Him.” Are you willing to follow Jesus to a “good meeting,” a “powerful preacher,” and a church that you like, or are you really wanting to follow in a way that makes you a true disciple of Jesus Christ? Jesus did a simple but profound thing before He preached what is considered the most important sermon of all time; He walked to the top of the mountain. All the multitudes of people that were so excited to follow Jesus at the bottom of the mountain, were not willing to make the climb to the top of the mountain (large hill) where Jesus would teach. Many times people, who seem so excited to follow Jesus one day, somehow lose their zeal when following means things are uncomfortable and require real commitment and sacrifice. Take time today to ask, “what type of follower of Christ Jesus am I?”