The Call that Changes Everything.

It’s amazing how just two words can hold the power to alter a life forever if they are spoken by the right person: “Follow Me.”

Those words, spoken by Jesus, are more than an invitation. They are a challenge. A challenge to step away from the ordinary and pursue something far greater. When Jesus spoke those words to Matthew, everything changed. Matthew was sitting at his tax booth, going about his daily business, when Jesus approached him. “As Jesus went on from there, He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s booth. ‘Follow Me,’ He told him, and Matthew got up and followed Him.” — Matthew 9:9

What strikes me is the simplicity of Jesus’ words. He didn’t overwhelm Matthew with conditions or explanations. Just two words, but they required faith and action. To follow means to move forward, to pursue. And that’s exactly what Matthew did.

What Does It Mean to Follow Jesus?

In Matthew 16:24, Jesus gives us a clearer picture: “Whoever wants to be My disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow Me.”

This isn’t a casual stroll. It’s a conscious decision to deny ourselves—to say no to our desires, to reject what the world offers, and to embrace a new way of life. It’s not just about leaving something behind; it’s about stepping into something far better.

I remember growing up in a church where we were taught all the things we couldn’t do. No drinking, no smoking, no dancing, no movies. It felt like a list of restrictions with no explanation of what we were gaining in return. But following Jesus isn’t just about giving things up—it’s about replacing what the world offers with something eternal.

The Cost and the Reward

Jesus didn’t hide the cost of following Him. He was upfront about it: “For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for Me will find it. What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?” — Matthew 16:25-26

The reality is, life in this world is temporary. Our bodies are temporary. But our souls? Eternal. And when we choose to follow Jesus, we’re trading temporary pleasures for something that lasts forever.

I’ve noticed that some people treat their choice to follow Jesus as a one-time decision. They say a prayer and think they’re set for life. But that’s just the beginning. Following Jesus is an ongoing pursuit. If we’re not intentional about staying close to Him, we become easy targets for deception. Jesus told us “how” to follow Him. “…he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me”  (Matthew 10:38).

Matthew’s Transformation

Matthew’s story is a powerful reminder of this. He wasn’t just a tax collector—he was a man who profited by taking advantage of others. In those days, tax collectors were seen as traitors and thieves. And yet, Jesus saw something in Matthew that no one else did. He didn’t just invite Matthew to tag along—He invited him to be transformed.

And Matthew was transformed. In just three years of following Jesus, he went from being a dishonest tax collector to a man willing to lay down his life for the truth. He eventually died a martyr, speared to the ground for challenging the moral corruption of a king.

Are You Being Transformed?

Matthew’s transformation wasn’t just about changing his actions. It was about a complete shift in his heart and mind. The same thing happens to us when we follow Jesus. Paul puts it this way: “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing and perfect will.” — Romans 12:2

The more we pursue Jesus, the more we become like Him. Following Jesus isn’t passive—it’s active. It’s a continual process of being reshaped, renewed, and transformed into His likeness. 2 Corinthians 3:18 says, “And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into His image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” 

The Cross: Where Our Will Meets His

Jesus Himself demonstrated what it means to follow when He prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane: “Father, if You are willing, take this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done.” — Luke 22:42

The cross is where God’s will collides with ours. It’s where we choose to let go of what we want, to give priority for what He wants. It’s where death to the flesh leads to life in the Spirit. Paul reminds us that when we’re born again, our “old self” is crucified with Christ: “We know that our old self was crucified with Him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with.” — Romans 6:6

To experience the power of that truth, we have to believe it, walk in it, and allow it to change us.

Are You Ready to Follow?

Following Jesus isn’t just about changing what we do. It’s about becoming someone new. It’s about letting go of temporary things to take hold of eternal life. It’s about saying, “Not my will, but Yours be done.” Are you ready to take that step? To not just believe in Jesus but to truly follow Him? Because when we follow, we’re not just walking behind Him—we’re being transformed into His image, one step at a time.

The choice is before you. Jesus is still saying, “Follow Me.” What will your answer be?

With God, nothing is impossible!
God bless you,
Dale and Paula Black