You Need Never Walk Alone

Life has a way of taking us down roads we never expected to travel. There are wonderful seasons
when life is going well, but there are also valleys of disappointment, grief, uncertainty, and fear.
We may not always get to choose the road before us, but we can choose who walks that road
with us.
That is why one of the simplest invitations Jesus ever gave is also one of the most powerful:
“Come, follow me.” (Matthew 4:19, NLT) Jesus did not tell people to get their lives completely
together before coming to Him. He did not demand that they become perfect first. He simply
invited ordinary people to follow Him.
Following Jesus is more than attending church or trying to become a better person. Christianity is
about having a relationship with Jesus Christ—the One who loves us, forgives us, changes us,
and gives us hope.
People search everywhere for that kind of life. We look for happiness in money, possessions,
careers, relationships, entertainment, accomplishments, and countless other places. Many of
those things can bring temporary happiness, but they cannot satisfy the deepest needs of the
human heart. One of the most amazing things about Jesus is that He already knows everything
about us, yet He still loves us. He knows our mistakes, regrets, disappointments, fears, and
failures.
Romans 5:8 tells us that “Christ died for us while we were still sinners.” (NLT) Jesus did not
wait for us to become worthy of His love. He died for us because we desperately needed His love
and forgiveness.
Following Jesus does not mean that life will suddenly become easy. Christians still experience
sickness, disappointment, financial struggles, grief, and unanswered questions. The difference is
that we do not have to face those things alone.
Perhaps you look back over your life and see things you wish you could change. Maybe you
wonder if you have made too many mistakes or wandered too far from God.
The wonderful message of the Gospel is that your past does not have to determine your future.
Jesus offers forgiveness, hope, purpose, and a new beginning.
You do not have to understand everything before following Christ. You simply begin by placing
your faith in Jesus, turning from sin, receiving His forgiveness, and surrendering your life to
Him.
Someday our earthly journey will end. The possessions, positions, and accomplishments we
worked so hard to obtain will be left behind. Our relationship with Jesus has eternal
consequences.
Jesus is still giving the same invitation today: “Follow me.”

Be blessed my friends.
Pastor Steve