I recently watched part 1 and 2 of the Chosen Season 5 in theaters. It was hard to watch it as merely entertainment and not reflect on what those scenes mean to me. In one of the scenes, Jesus was preaching to a crowd and the apostles were talking amongst themselves in shock. After they had left and gone back to where they were staying the apostles begged Jesus to take it all back. To tell everyone that he did not believe those things, because they knew that it would lead to trouble. In that moment, I thought to myself, I would do the same thing. I would not be trusting in him; I would be begging him to stop.

But we are not called to follow Jesus just to stay in our ways, to tell Him what we want, and to look the other way. We are called to follow Jesus in love. To come to believe in Him and trust in His words! I have been told recently that to follow Jesus is more of a response to love, than to just merely obey.

Let this Lent be a response to the love He pours out onto you. Follow Him not just because He calls you but because He loves you. Come to believe in the Lord, who went to far lengths to show you, His love.

Where in your life do you need to follow Christ in love more?

Jesus, help me to see your ways in love and respond to that love by following you and saying yes to the life you have for me. Amen.