John 1:43-51 – The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. Finding Philip, he said to him, “Follow me.” 44 Philip, like Andrew and Peter, was from the town of Bethsaida. 45 Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” 46 “Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” Nathanael asked. “Come and see,” said Philip. 47 When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, he said of him, “Here truly is an Israelite in whom there is no deceit.” 48 “How do you know me?” Nathanael asked. Jesus answered, “I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you.” 49 Then Nathanael declared, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the king of Israel.” 50 Jesus said, “You believe because I told you I saw you under the fig tree. You will see greater things than that.” 51 He then added, “Very truly I tell you, you will see ‘heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on’ the Son of Man.”
“The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. Finding Philip, he said to him, “Follow me.” Jesus decided to leave. He had another divine appointment. He did not happen upon Philip, He found him where He knew he would be. It is the same for all of us. We all had an appointment with the Lord God who had preordained it. For our benefit. He knew and loved us before all of creation. (Ephesians 1:4, Jeremiah 1:5, Psalm 139:16) Jesus located Philip exactly where He knew Philip would be. He knew exactly who Philip was and what he was destined to be. He not only knew what location to find him at, but He knew who and what he would be. The point is, that whatever our spiritual condition is upon the day we encounter the Lord, God knew what it would be. He knew our failures, our heartaches and our physical hurts and He still loved us and called us. And He still does. He knows each morning what regrets and sorrow we will wake with. He calls us, in whatever condition we wake, to follow Him. Remember He loves us and He can fix us. Every day He calls us to follow Him.
Jesus said to Philip “Follow me.” Yes, it was an invite, but it was also a command. “Follow me” so that I may pluck you from the path that leads to hell. “Follow me” because I am on the only way to eternal life. For our sake He calls all of us to also follow Him. Yes He invites us, but He also informs us that we must follow Him or we will perish. No man comes to the Father unless they will submit and follow Jesus. It was an invitation and a command. Some may view it as a threat because the invite and command had no other good option but to obey and follow. To not follow meant the most dire of endings. But yet, we know that God did give the option. Man can and does choose. One unto life and one unto death. (John 3:18) It is an option and only a few of all of mankind will make the right choice.
The Lord also says to us, all of us. “Follow me.” Now whatever doctrines you find dear, know that Jesus says to all of us every morning, Believers and Un-believers, to follow Him afresh every morning. There is no day that we should not commit to follow Him. Every day we have a choice and there is only one correct response. I pray that we all make the right one. Praise God that He is with us to help us. It is what He wants. (2 Peter 3:9) Praise God that He calls to all! Praise God who loves us! Praise God!
John 1:5 “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”
Psalm 150:6 – Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!
Micah 7:7 – But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will Hear me.
Micah 6:8 – He has shown you, Oh man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you, but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
Numbers 6:24-26 The Lord bless you and keep you; 25 The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you; 26 The Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace.