KEY SCRIPTURE: Joh 9:35 KJV” Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when he had found him, he said unto him, Dost thou believe on the Son of God?”

The act of following up with new believers is an indispensable duty that everyone who has been exposed to enough biblical truth must engage in. Our Lord Jesus was the one who first practiced this all-important work and left it to His disciples to continue.

Every one of the post-resurrection visits of the Lord was to follow up on his disciples, who were becoming fearful and might have given up the task He called them to do. Acts 1:3 KJV “To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:”

He showed Himself to them, by many infallible proofs, so that, their faith in Him and in eternal life would be unshaken. Let’s consider some of the instances He visited them, after His resurrection (John 20:21-23). The Lord showed himself to the disciples when Thomas was not there.  When he was told the Lord visited them, he said, he would not believe it until he had placed his hands into his pierced side and hands. Through Thomas’ actions, we could easily see his faith was at ground zero, and he really needed help. By the next Sunday, Jesus visited them and asked Thomas to place his finger into His side. In all these, the Lord was, following up on them to strengthen them. (John 20:27-28)

After some time, Peter and the rest of the disciples who were told that they would be fishers of men, decided to go back into fishing, because they might be getting discouraged. The Lord visited them at the shore, and helped them to catch more fish but had to encourage Peter to stick to the work of feeding the lambs and the sheep. (John 21:5-19)

Through these follow-up visits the disciples were strengthened to stand because they had encountered Him through many infallible proofs, over a period of forty days. What would have happened to these disciples if Jesus had not revealed himself to them? Would they have been so convinced about the validity of His resurrection and be ready to even die for what they knew was truth? As our master was a master in following up on His disciples, so should every one of us follow up on every new member who joins our congregation.

CONFESSION

I thank God for how far He’s brought me in the faith. I will also give myself to helping younger Christians stand stronger in the Lord, as I reach out to them.

THOUGHT: FOLLOW-UP IS ASSUMING A PARENT AND CHILD RELATIONSHIP TO HELP THE NEW BELIEVER GROW IN THE LORD.

FURTHER STUDIES

Rom 1:10,11 KJV” Making request, if by any means now at length I might have a prosperous journey by the will of God to come unto you. For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established;”

Col 4:12 KJV” Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.”