The decision to follow Jesus will deeply transform life on earth.  Knowing that many will laugh and mock you just like they did the King, we still choose to follow Jesus for many great reasons.

1. The emptiness of soul is filled with a sense of great purpose. Through the teachings of Jesus, we find that His Way serves our need to be useful and others. The ability to love our enemies comes by His grace. We offer compassion, and quickly forgive those who Satan uses to attempt to offend us. We do not react in the same old defensive ways, but grace!

2. Having a relationship with God is to daily enter into conversation with Him. The Holy Spirit is the exact representation of Jesus, and we experience His presence and submit to His leading.

3. The Holy Spirit guides us into all wisdom as we gain understanding of the scriptures. The Word provides moral and ethical guidance for how to live a fulfilling life. The Word of God is living and active as it cuts through lies and gives us needed discernment to make wise decisions.

4. Our hope lives as we are lifted above the world narrative.  We were bought for a great price, redeemed from the pit of despair. Adopted and sealed with an eternal identity not based on ethnicity, education, or appearance.  Through Jesus, we embrace His mercy, love, forgiveness and His gift of eternal life in heaven.

5. Following Jesus connects us with a community of believers who share similar values and support each other in our faith journey. Our sense of belonging is  comforting and valued.

6. Jesus emphasizes the importance of loving others and serving those in need. We find fulfillment in emulating His example by helping others and making a positive impact in our communities by paying His grace forward.

7. As a follower of Jesus, we can testify to significant personal changes.  An increase of compassion, patience, and resilience. Our personal testimony leads others to consider a peaceful and joyful life in Christ Jesus.  Followers of Jesus continue to profoundly impact history, culture, and ethics. Many are drawn to His example as a model for living a life of integrity and love.

The sons and daughters of God are led by the Holy Spirit into all truth. While there are many voices today shouting at us on various platforms, we get away, to be alone with God.  His still small voice speaks to guide, and comfort us.

We listen and obey and in our obedience we shine with the glory of God. Satan works through others to frustrate, irritate, and offend us to get us to respond in anger, or defensive pride. We wisely choose to give a soft answer “Peace be with you.” Our response gives glory to God just as it frustrates the schemes of the devil.

The fruit of the Holy Spirit in us is how they know we are empowered by God to respond in love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, and self control. Our behavior is evidence of who abides in us

We wreck the deceivers plan to trip us up as we do not respond in the flesh, but by the Spirit who leads us. The spiritual war is ongoing, but we live victorious as His surrendered ambassadors.

We self-control our old nature and respond gently. We pause and ask Holy Spirit to give us the right words to speak in a tone that soothes the offender, and frustrates the devil.

God frustrates those who think they can outsmart their Creator. Humbly we submit, and like David, we trust God to win our battles.

Trusting the Spirit of God to lead us, we submit, and follow His nudge, His quiet voice in every tense, angry situation. The Word of God in us rises up to respond for us in the very way for all.