Seguir a Jesus
Seguir a Jesus é o convite mais transformador da Bíblia. Jesus chamou pescadores, cobradores de impostos e pessoas comuns para deixar tudo e segui-lo. Esse chamado continua vivo hoje.
O chamado de Jesus
Jesus disse: 'Segue-me'. Esse convite simples e poderoso mudou a vida de pescadores, publicanos e pessoas comuns ao longo da história.
19 And he said to them, Come with me, and I will make you fishers of men.20 Immediately they left the nets and followed him.
9 As Jesus departed thence, he saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the toll office; to whom he said, Follow me. And he arose and followed him.
43 The next day, he resolved to go to Galilee, and meeting Philip, said to him, Follow me.
57 As they were on the way, one said to him, Master, I will follow you whithersoever you go.58 Jesus answered, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have places of shelter; but the Son of Man has not where to repose his head.59 He said to another, Follow me. He answered, Sir, permit me first to go and bury my father.60 Jesus replied, Let the dead bury their dead; but go you and publish the Reign of God.61 Another, likewise, said, I will follow you, Sir; but first permit me to take leave of my family.62 Jesus answered, No man, having put his hand to the plow, looks behind him, is fit for the kingdom of God.
O custo do discipulado
Seguir a Jesus exige renúncia. É preciso tomar a cruz diariamente, deixar tudo para trás e amar a Cristo acima de qualquer outro vínculo.
24 Then said Jesus to his disciples, If any man will come under my guidance, let him renounce himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
26 If any man come to me, and hate not his father and mother, and wife, and children, and brothers, and sisters; nay, and himself, too; he can not be my disciple.27 And whosoever does not follow me, carrying his cross, can not be my disciple.
28 Then Peter took occasion to say, As for us, we have forsaken all, and followed you.29 Jesus answering, said, Indeed, I say to you, there is none who shall have forsaken his house, or brothers, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, for my sake and the gospel's;30 who shall not receive now, in this world, a hundred fold; houses, and brothers, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the future state, eternal life.31 But many shall be first, who are last, and last, who are first.
Caminhar com Cristo
Quem segue a Jesus não anda em trevas, mas tem a luz da vida. Ele nos convida a crescer nele e a servir como Ele serviu.
12 Again Jesus addressed the people, saying, I am the light of the world. He who follows me, shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
26 Would any man serve me? let him follow me; and where I am, there shall my servant also be. If any man serve me, my Father will reward him.
21 Besides, to this you were called; for even Christ suffered for us, leaving us a pattern, that you should follow his footsteps;22 who did not sin, neither was guile found in his mouth;23 who, when he was reviled, did not revile in return; when he suffered he did not threaten, but committed his cause to him who judges righteously-
15 but speaking the truth in love, we may all grow into him, who is the Head, even Christ;