Following is the Only Proof of Coming.” ...

Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, "I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life."

I read something this morning by Frances R Havergal that was very convicting about following Jesus...the words that caused me to read further were these:

“Following is the only proof of coming.”

Jesus here in John 8, vs 12 says that those who follow Him shall not walk in darkness but will have the light of life.  How do we know we are following Him?  “Following”, the article said, is not standing still and you can’t follow something without coming away from something else.  Makes sense.  If you are not deluding yourself or seeking refuge in lies, your following Jesus will be just as real as your coming to Jesus was.  The author asks, “What have you left behind to follow Him?”  What have you left off doing for His sake?  Good questions...

Jesus left us an example, the Bible says, to follow in His steps...how closely matched are my own steps to Jesus’?

Here was the convicting part for me.  The author urged the reader to go through just one gospel with the guidance of the Holy Spirit with the express purpose of noting the steps of Jesus.  With that accomplished the author said, you would see very clearly whether are following or not.  Using Acts 10:38 the author gives us one indication of what those steps might be.

“how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.”—Acts 10:38

“Went about doing good”...it does not say that He went about doing no harm but that He proactively sought to do good.   Umm...for me on most days that is a fail.

Being convicted is never pleasant but God’s ways...Wisdom’s ways...are ways of pleasantness and Wisdom’s paths peace. You, Father, will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Father...show me where my footsteps are not in alignment with Yours and by the power of Your Spirit give me that desire to walk pleasing You and may this be where my joy is found.