Hosanna Restoration Church

How many times in your life have you said, or heard someone say, “You can’t make me?” This starts when we are children and continues throughout our lives. We may not say the exact words as we get older, but we still say it all the same. There are times in all of our lives where we may be forced to do what we do not want to do, but even as we do them we make it clear we do not want to do it and no one can make us.

With this in mind, it is important to understand that Jesus was not telling us to go and force people to follow Him. Rather, He was giving us the tools that would enable people to become disciples. The fact is we can do all things with Christ, but we don’t have to do anything we don’t want to. God does not force us and He will not force us. On the other hand, the devil is quite a different sort of a task master. He tricks, manipulates, and imprisons people without them ever even suspecting that it is happening.

The Lord pointed out to me that His intention was that people would observe His example and as they followed Him they would in turn be like Him. Jesus came into the world not only to save us, but to show us the way to abundant life. For more than three years He led by example. His words and actions were intended to be keys that would open doors for us from now to eternity.

He was our example for the way to forgive and the way to give. He taught us how to handle disease as well as how to overcome bitterness. Both of these will kill us if they are not treated properly! His Word is the ultimate “How To” book.

Jesus would teach the people and then He would demonstrate. Have you considered the things that made the greatest impressions on the disciples? They went from one wow to the next. Jesus would feed thousands and then just as they were trying to figure out how He did that, Jesus calmed a storm with a word. They would shake their heads wondering what would come next.

After Jesus sent them out to do the stuff themselves they were really excited. The more they saw that all things were possible with God the more they were convinced they were making the right choice following Him. In the end, they were convinced enough to die if necessary in order to teach others the way to the life that Jesus promised.

It is true that no one can make us take part in this life. It is just as true that no power anywhere can keep us from it if we will submit ourselves to the Lord Jesus Christ. He will not make us, but He will quickly take us as far as we choose to go.