Perhaps this song sums it up:

“I have decided to follow Jesus
I have decided to follow Jesus
No turning back, no turning back
The cross before me, the world behind me
The cross before me, the world behind me
The cross before me, the world behind me
No turning back, no turning back.”

Have you heard about the story behind the great song, “I Have Decided to Follow Jesus”? Here is a copied version (Hymnary.org):

“About 150 years ago, there was a great revival in Wales, United Kingdom. As a result of this, many missionaries came from England and Germany to North-East India to spread the Gospel. At the time, North-East India was not divided into many states as it is today. The region was known as Assam and comprised hundreds of tribes… Naturally, they were not welcomed.

One Welsh missionary succeeded in converting a man, his wife, and two children. This man’s faith proved contagious and many villagers began to accept Christianity. Angry, the village chief summoned all the villagers. He then called the family who had first converted to renounce their faith in public or face execution. Moved by the Holy Spirit, the man instantly composed a song which became famous down the years. He sang:

‘I have decided to follow Jesus. (3 times)
No turning back, no turning back.’”

Whereas this speaks of real worship, it reveals the proper attitude of our hearts. Thanksgiving should be given freely and happily to the Lord for all His benefits and blessings. Are you thankful?

Another wonderful passage in the Bible concerning this subject of being THANKFUL is found in Psalm 107:22, “And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare his works with rejoicing.”

Apparently, as you can read, there was some false information going around concerning legalistic practices, much like today. Whereas this is not to be used as an excuse to sinful living at all. On the contrary, rather, this is an admonition to give THANKS for everything, more specifically what we eat or in regards to marriage.

Interesting to note, the word here used for “meats” is βρῶμα (brōma) — which means “whatever is eaten,” and may refer to animal flesh, fish, fruit, or vegetables.

Eating certain meats became an issue throughout the early Churches due to the restrictive Jewish laws; in addition, some meats were offered to idols. Therefore, it became a stumbling block to weaker CHRISTians. God the Holy Spirit led Paul to warn the stronger CHRISTIANS not to eat it if it was a stumbling block. But besides that, they were to give THANKS.

Introduction: Is the table set? What’s there to eat? This “Thanksgiving” you can feast on spiritual food. Check out the BIBLICAL menu for the CHRISTian. It is more than a FREE lunch!

1. Jesus offers “Spiritual” food as well as physical food! (John 6:27-35)

“Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed. Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent. They said therefore unto him, What sign shewest thou then, that we may see, and believe thee? what dost thou work? Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat. Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world. Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread. And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.” 

Jesus had just performed a MIRACLE! With just two fishes and five loaves of bread from a little lad’s lunch, Jesus fed over 5,000 people! Imagine the scene. The food kept multiplying. People could not believe their eyes. They were amazed.
All of this supernatural event had a heavenly purpose.

2. Jesus offers “Spiritual bread” which turns into eternal life! (John 6:53-58) – “Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him. As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me. This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever.” 

Now why do you think Jesus fed the 5,000? Because they were hungry? Not completely. Rather, His mission in this life was to reveal the Father. In so doing, people would BELIEVE that He was the MESSIAH. And consequently, they would put their TRUST in His WORD, His WILL, and His WAY for eternal life.

3. Jesus offers “Spiritual food” -eternal life for FREE but taking up a cross as a disciple will COST you something! (John 6:67- 69) – “From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away? Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. 69And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.”

Even today, this same crowd will be impressed by Jesus, the Miracle Maker!

Sign seekers……… “Show me a SIGN”!

Are you a SIGN SEEKER? Or are you a SURRENDERED SAINT?

Conclusion: Sad to say but people today want a FREE lunch from Jesus! “Meet my needs…heal my body…give me a job…etc.” Nothing wrong with asking our Lord for those things but please DO NOT STOP there! People want the blessings from Jesus but not the burden of a CROSS! Tell me. Are you seeking Jesus for a FREE lunch or total commitment?

Please notice the chronological order:

1. WALK encouraged by our Lord’s PRESENCE (Col. 2:6–7), and get FILLED UP! (Eph 5:18)

2. WALK exercising our Lord’s PURPOSE – FILL UP and then POUR OUT! (Col. 2:6–7)

• Rebuild broken relationships
• Fight jealousy
• Refrain from criticism & judgmental spirits

REMEMBER: We are Too STRESSED to be BLESSED!

3. WALK enjoying our Lord’s PEACE – FILL UP and then POUR OUT! (Col. 2:6–7)

“Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father,

There is no shadow of turning with Thee;

Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not:

As Thou hast been, Thou forever wilt be.

Great is Thy faithfulness! Great is Thy faithfulness!

Morning by morning new mercies I see;

All I have needed Thy hand hath provided—

Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!”

Even during a time of sadness and sorrow, Jeremiah the prophet boldly exclaimed that God was still FAITHFUL! The magnificent temple that the Lord had Solomon to build lay in ruins—burned to the ground by the Babylonian army in 586 B.C. The Jewish people were heartbroken and feeling despairing. Have you been there?

Interesting to note, the word “faithfulness” is אֱמוּנָה, which means set office, or faithful. More personally, it means stability, and steady. Does not that describe the God of the Bible? He is “stable” and “steady”. Why is that important? Because things around us are changing which can cause instability. But Jesus is the same! (Heb. 13:8)

This next stanza reveals that beautifully.

“Summer and winter and springtime and harvest,

Sun, moon and stars in their courses above

Join with all nature in manifold witness

To Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.

Great is Thy faithfulness! Great is Thy faithfulness!

Morning by morning new mercies I see;

All I have needed Thy hand hath provided—

Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!”

Speaking of the Lord’s Faithfulness, how about His removing the debt of our sin which attempts to hang over our heads like a black cloud. The songwriter penned the words magnifying God’s FAITHFULNESS in the following:

“Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth,

Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide;

Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,

Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!

Great is Thy faithfulness! Great is Thy faithfulness!

Morning by morning new mercies I see;

All I have needed Thy hand hath provided—

Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me.”

Try repeating the words to this song.

What about the leper who was healed of leprosy, the paralytic of thirty-eight years who was healed instantly of his infirmity, the sinful woman who was caught in the act of adultery but forgiven of her sins instead of being stoned to death, the apostle Paul who was converted from a murderer to a flaming missionary?

Consider the fishermen’s change from catching fish to rescuing sinking souls! Peter, James and John became dedicated disciples who followed Jesus Christ to their grave. Matthew left a life of stealing and covetousness to a life of sacrificial compassion. Thomas went from “doubting to shouting” when he witnessed the risen Christ! James, the half brother of Jesus, was an unbeliever until the resurrection and later became the senior leader in the Church of Jerusalem. Besides that, he was inspired to write his letter included in the Canon of Scripture.

It has been the most exciting thing along with rewarding to see Jesus Christ change so many men, women, boys and girls through these last four decades! Some who are still serving in key positions of ministry. Others are making a difference in their families and communities. Many have taken their heavenly flight to enter into their eternal rest in their celestial home. Has Jesus changed your life? Can you testify?

Check out this heavenly scene: