Blessed Are Those Who Follow Him

Prayer-Soldier · Posted: Wed Jan 24, 2018 10:53 am Post subject: Blessed Are Those Who Follow Him

Blessed Are Those Who Follow Him

Scripture:

And the word of the Lord came to Jonas the second time saying: Arise, and go to Ninive, the great city: and preach in it the preaching that I bid you. And Jonas arose, and went to Ninive, according to the word of the Lord: now Ninive was a great city of three days to journey. And Jonas began to enter into the city one day of journey: and he cried and said: Yet forty days and Ninive shall be destroyed. And the men of Ninive believed in God: and they proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth from the greatest to the least.

And God saw their works, that they were turned from their evil way: and God had mercy with regard to the evil which he had said that he would do to them, and he did it not.
(Jonah 3:1-5, 10)

This therefore I say, brethren: The time is short. It remains, that they also who have wives be as if they had none: And they that weep, as though they wept not: and they that rejoice, as if they rejoiced not: and they that buy as if they possessed not: And they that use this world, as if they used it not. For the fashion of this world passes away.
(1 Corinthians 7:29-31)

And after that John was delivered up, Jesus came in Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying: The time is accomplished and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent and believe the gospel: And passing by the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew his brother, casting nets into the sea for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them: Come after me; and I will make you to become fishers of men. And immediately leaving their nets, they followed him. And going on from thence a little farther, he saw James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, who also were mending their nets in the ship: And forthwith he called them. And leaving their father Zebedee in the ship with his hired men, they followed him.
(Mark 1:14-20)

Reflection:

Despite the efforts of good and loving hearts, evil continues to infect the world. Some turn to God and cry out, ?Why have you allowed this?? Perhaps the question we might expect from God in return is, ?I endeavor to teach you my ways, the ways of love; why then, do you allow this?? It is possible to fight evil, but we must make the decision to do so, the decision to live according to His ways; the ways of love.

Some of us are tempted to respond to God, ?But Lord, I am just one person. How can I face and defeat the evil of the world?? We might expect God to respond, ?Who was Noah, who was Abraham, who was Isaac, who was Jacob, and who was Moses? Who were Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel, Leah, Meriam, Ruth, and Elizabeth? Who were Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Daniel? Were any of these more than one person, yet did they not endeavor to walk in the ways to which I called them? Did they not take the hands of those who surrounded them and encourage them to do what is right and just? What were they that I have not also made you?

?Not all were kings, queens, or great warriors. It was not their station in life which enabled them, for indeed, I have worked through the lowly to influence the mighty. What enabled them to face the day was their choice to trust in my ways. It is now your choice to endeavor to walk that path which brings forth love. Now that you know, what will you choose??

As we wake each day, there is time before us. The question is, what will we do with that time? Will we while it away with mindless pursuits? Will we seek selfish pleasures which quickly evaporate in the flow of time? Will we squander our days in the evil darkness, or will we use our time to learn the ways of civility, compassion, charity, and love? Will we use our time to share what we learn? Will we use it to bring forth blessings for others? Will we use our time to pursue the ways which prepare us for our eternal place?

So that we may know the ways of His blessings, God sent us the Word made flesh; His only begotten Son. For a time, He walked with the children of His creation and taught them in various ways. He opened their eyes to the blessings of the Word. So that His gospel may be spread to the nations, He gathered to Him those who would become fishers of men. (Matthew 4:19, Mark 1:17) He taught them the gospel, then, sent them forth to make disciples of all nations and to baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. (Matthew 28:19)

Blessed are those who learn from Him. Blessed are those who follow Him. Blessed are those who hear the gospel and endeavor to live as the Son of God teaches. As we learn, we too have the opportunity to share. With joy, let us seek to share the blessings of His Word. Let us join hands with one another and endeavor to bring the ways of heaven to this world so we may better prepare for the day we may be gathered together within His kingdom.

Questions for further reflection:

How may we examine our ways and turn from what displeases God?

How may we examine our lives and turn our time to His ways?

How may we help to share the blessings of His gospel?

May the peace and blessings of the Lord be with you always,
Prayer Soldier