LifeLink Devotional

Thursday, August 27, 2020

People are natural born followers. Even those who profess to be leaders are driven by their nature to follow. It is human nature to first follow self, and then to follow those who are also following self. Just look around. The predominate philosophy of people is to pursue self-enhancement, self-benefit, self-approval, and self-gratification. The people of the world are following self, and following people who are also following self.

The activity of following self is sin. The Scripture declares this truth in Isaiah 53 verse 6.

All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

We all desire to follow someone. We all need someone whom we believe provides us with the answers we are seeking to life’s serious questions. We are skilled at jumping onto bandwagons.

Jesus understood this fact of human nature. Thousands of people followed Him because they thought He could satisfy their personal needs. After explaining to them the deeper spiritual needs that He would meet for them, this is what happened.

John 6:66-69 After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him. ⁶⁷So Jesus said to the Twelve, “Do you want to go away as well?” ⁶⁸Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, ⁶⁹and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.”

People left because they wanted to follow someone who was also following self. But Jesus had earlier stated that He was following the Father, not self. People understood that to mean that He would not meet their need to gratify self, so they walked away.

Then Jesus asked His chosen disciples what they would do. I love the response of Peter.

“Lord, to whom shall we go?”

Peter realized that he was tired of following the pursuits of self-fulfillment. He recognized that there is a much greater human need than food and shelter. Peter declared that He was ready to seek spiritual fulfillment ahead of all other human needs. He had discovered that there was only one true source of fulfillment, only one way to spiritual life, and only one Person worthy of being followed.

“Lord, to whom shall we go?”

Who are you following that you hope will lead you to fulfillment? Is it a political leader? Is it a financial advisor? Is it a social justice movement or cause? What are you passionately pursuing so that your life can finally have meaning and purpose?

“Lord, to whom shall we go?”

Peter answers His own question.

“You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.”

I hope you can say the same.

Pastor John