December 31

Follow Me

Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. And after He had said this, He told him, “Follow Me.” — John 21:19 BSB

We have come to the last day of the year. For a whole year, in these daily readings, we have been walking with Christ. Is there any better way to close this year and this book than with Christ’s final invitation: “Follow me”? This is the true purpose of all learning about Christ. Mere knowledge, even spiritual knowledge, means nothing unless it leads us to follow Him.

We have seen Jesus in many different situations. We have heard His words. Now it remains for us to follow Him. The result of seeing and knowing should be living and doing. As we stand at the end of the year, we are reminded of this duty. Who can look back over the year without feeling some dissatisfaction? The past is behind us—we cannot change it, and there is no use wasting time on regrets. But the new year lies ahead, and if we want it to be better than the past, we must follow Christ more closely.

To follow Christ means to go where He leads, without questioning. It may be a path of trial, suffering, or sacrifice, but that doesn’t matter. Our only duty is to obey and follow. We can be certain that Jesus will lead us in the right paths, and that the way He takes will end at the feet of God.

The new year is unknown, and we don’t know what will happen, but if we follow Christ, we need not fear. Let’s leave the old year with gratitude for its blessings and sorrow for its failures. And let’s enter the new year with a renewed commitment to make it the best, most beautiful year we have ever lived.