Following the Lord Jesus is a choice. One must consciously choose to follow Him. Ironically, many Christians believe they have chosen Jesus when, in fact, they never truly have. Some become Christians because of their parents, while others do so because of their spouse. In truth, such people have never made a personal choice for Jesus, because their faith is not the result of a decision of surrender—it is merely inherited. True faith is obedience to God’s will. Christians who have been so since birth are at significant risk of simply becoming adherents of the Christian religion without having a personal encounter with Christ, and this does not mean all lifelong Christians are unspiritual, but the potential to become “Registered Christians” is very high. Therefore, we must be grateful if God has been pleased to open our understanding so that we can experience true repentance.
Following Jesus means becoming like Him, and that, too, is a choice. We do not automatically become like Christ. To be like Jesus does not mean being equal to Him, but to possess the same mindset and feelings that were in Christ Jesus (Philippians 2:5-7), which is what we call spiritual intelligence—the ability to think and act in accordance with God’s thoughts and feelings. Achieving this requires a continuous and intense struggle—moment by moment, day by day.
Anyone who feels content merely being a Christian who attends Church will not struggle to become like Christ. Therefore, we must choose to follow Jesus sincerely—to become like Him. The Church must continually proclaim this truth, urging and stimulating the congregation to make it the sole agenda of their lives. In Luke 4:5-8, we read of Jesus being tempted by the devil. The devil offered Him the world and all its glory if He would worship him. But Jesus replied, “You shall worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only.” To worship means to give the highest worth. Giving God the highest value is expressed by honouring Him through obedience—doing all things according to His will, living a life that truly pleases the Father.
In the life of New Covenant believers, worship is not a momentary ceremony, but a way of life in spirit and in truth, which, too, is a choice, not an automatic state. To worship in spirit and truth requires struggle, because within us still resides a sinful nature that demands satisfaction. Therefore, we must have the courage to deny ourselves, crucify the desires of the flesh, and even betray ourselves—in the sense of not following our own will—so that everything we do aligns with the mind and heart of God, which is the true meaning of the struggle of faith. The Lord Jesus taught many truths to enlighten our minds and to build spiritual intelligence so that we might discern and choose what is right before God.
Therefore, in pastoral ministry, teaching is of utmost importance. Like the early believers in the Book of Acts, they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching. They were not merely processing knowledge but experiencing personal encounters with God through that teaching. What was taught was not mere theory, but truth born out of living fellowship with the Lord. We must never separate knowledge about God from fellowship with God; these two cannot exist in separate spaces. Proper understanding will always lead a person into the right fellowship with God.
If we say that we must have a “space” to fellowship with God, then that space is built from an understanding of the truth. And again, this is a choice. Every day, we are faced with many options: will we spend hours watching movies or indulging in worldly entertainment, or will we set aside time to listen to God’s Word, study the Bible, read spiritual books, and meditate before the Lord? There is, of course, a time for rest and recreation, and that is not wrong. But we must learn to choose what is worthwhile—what builds our spirit and what is approved by the Holy Spirit.
Out of the twenty-four hours God gives us each day, we must set aside special time for matters concerning God. We indeed live in His presence in all things, but personal fellowship with the Lord—listening to His Word and speaking with Him in prayer—must never be neglected. This is the spiritual struggle of every believer: choosing to live before God each day, not out of obligation, but out of love for Him.