I Have Decided to Follow Jesus...

The night before we left for Italy, we have a commissioning ceremony. After the session, the Italy team gathered around a cross with a light on it outside. If you looked around, you could seen hundreds of glowing lights and many crosses. One of the members of our team, Tony, couldn't come with us to Italy (because of passport problems) and he talked a little that night. He talked and then suggested we sing the song, "I have decided to follow Jesus." So there on that beautiful night, voices raised, not to each other, not to other teams, but to Jesus. "I have decided to follow Jesus, no turning back, no turning back..."
The Christians in Italy so serious about what they believed and I encourage you all to be the same. I encourage you all to follow Jesus, no matter how popular to unpopular it is, no matter how easy or hard it is, how joyful or painful it is. I got to see the coliseum in Rome where thousands of Christians were slaughtered like animals and it screamed yet you could only hear it if you were silent for one, "It is worth it!"
I think, even though we might already be Christians and live in Christian homes, we have to decide for ourselves if we want to follow God. Not because our parents do, our youth pastor, our friends do, but because we want to. I recently had that choice to make, did I really want to follow Jesus? I didn't want to make it hastily. Without God though, I would only live for myself and have no greater purpose. And I needed Jesus' love and assurance. I wanted Him! I didn't just need God; I really wanted Him. I encourage you to make this choice. I think that the best thing in the world is having Jesus love you and want a relationship with you!