FOLLOW ME

Main Scriptures: Jn.21:12-19

More Scriptures: Matt.19:28, Matt.4:22, Mk.6:1

The story in our main text today was about the post resurrection encounters Jesus Christ had with His disciples. After the brutal torture, death, burial and resurrection of Jesus, He had a brief walk on earth. He visited His disciples to reaffirm that He was the resurrected Christ. While some of His disciples had engaged themselves in other activities, others did not. So, in one of those visits, He met with the disciples who had gone into fishing. The fishermen had toiled all day but caught nothing. But when they met with Jesus, He told them to cast their nets again. And when they did, they harvested so much fishes that they sought for the assistance of others. Then He made this remark, follow me (Jn.21:19). And immediately, they followed Him because they saw what He did.

So, as the head of the family and the spiritual authority over your sheep, can your wife and children follow you by reason of what you are doing that they can see? A lot of the time as shepherds, we want our sheep to follow us. We want them to obey our instructions and trust our judgements. But what we do both in the secret and in the open is contrary to God’s instructions. As the shepherd of your sheep, your sheep are designed to follow you. They have that ability to respect you and take instructions from you. However, they will resist you if you have not shown the good and godly examples of the godly husband. This is why in Acts chapter 1 and verse 1, the Scripture says that Jesus who began both to do and to teach (Acts 1:1). It is not enough for you to teach your wife and children what is right, let them see you live it out both in your words and in your actions. You cannot force your wife and children to respect you. You cannot force them to submit to you neither can you command them to honour you. If they ever do, it is just a matter of time. They will rebel against you later in life.

For you to become like Jesus Christ, the perfect example of the good and godly husband and command the followership of your wife and children, you have to learn to act rightly, speak graciously and conduct yourself honourably. Secondly, you must offer yourself in serving the best interests of your sheep. Remember that you are a shepherd. And a shepherd serves his sheep. So, serve your sheep with your time, your finances, your body and your life. The third step you must take is to pray them into obedience. The Scripture says of God about you when He said, give me your heart (Pro.23:26). If God requests that you should give Him your heart, so also you can request the Lord to give the hearts of your sheep to you. He made them and owns their hearts and wants them to follow. You are the good shepherd.

SPIRITUAL EXERCISE

• Father, in the Name of Jesus, empower me to do good works to my sheep.
• Father, in the Name of Jesus, let my godly attitude influence my wife and children to follow joyfully.
• Father, in the Name of Jesus, give me the wisdom to develop godly character.

FAITH CONFESSION   

I learn at the feet of Jesus and allow His life to influence mine so that my wife and children can see and follow me because that is God’s plan for me as the good and godly husband in Jesus Name. Amen.

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