"Follow Me" – A Radical Call

“The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. Finding Philip, He said to him, ‘Follow Me.’"— John 1:43 (NIV) 

I never thought discipleship would be this radical. It was always easy for me to think about being a disciple or a servant of God—until I began to truly understand what that meant. I used to imagine discipleship as something noble and fulfilling (and it is), but I had not counted the cost. 

I’ve been asked if I genuinely desire to be in ministry. That question shook me—perhaps, not because I lacked love for God, but because it forced me to confront the weight of His call. The more I examined the reality of serving Jesus, the clearer it became: I am not called to comfort, but to obedience. Not to convenience, but to surrender. 

When Jesus called Philip in John 1:43, He said two simple words: “Follow Me.” But in those words was a weighty invitation—one that demanded everything. In the culture of that day, to follow a rabbi meant you left your home, your livelihood, your ambitions, and even your own authority over your life. You didn’t just walk behind the rabbi; you walked like the rabbi, thinking, speaking, and living as he did. 

Jesus still calls today with the same invitation: “Follow Me.” He doesn't call us to a part-time walk, or a convenient faith. He calls us to radical surrender. To follow Him means choosing His ways over ours, His mission over our comfort, His truth over our opinions. 

The cost is real—but so is the reward. In losing our lives, we find them. In surrendering, we gain something the world cannot offer: the joy of walking closely with the Savior, the purpose of joining in His redemptive work, and the hope of eternal life. 

Ask yourself today: 
  • What am I holding on to that’s keeping me from fully following Jesus? 
  • Have I romanticized discipleship without recognizing its cost? 
  • What would it look like to say yes—completely—to Jesus? 

Prayer: 
"Lord Jesus, I hear Your call: “Follow Me.” Help me to count the cost, yet still say yes. Give me the courage to surrender what I cling to, and the grace to follow You wherever You lead. May my life reflect radical love, deep obedience, and total devotion to You. Amen."

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