What Did Jesus Really Mean When He Said Follow Me?

"Churches are filled with people who seem content to have casual association with Christ and give nominal adherence to Christianity. Scores of men, women, and children have been told that becoming a follower of Jesus simply involves acknowledging certain facts or saying certain words. But this is not true. Disciples like Peter, Andrew, James, and John show us that the call to follow Jesus is not simply an invitation to pray a prayer; it is a summons to lose our lives" (p. 23)It is possible to have a prayed a prayer to receive Christ with as much sincerity as you could muster and still not be a Christian. Following Jesus entails far more than repeating a short prayer. As David Platt makes clear in his booklet What Did Jesus Really Mean When He Said Follow Me?, there is a cost in following Jesus that is born out in one's life. When we come to Jesus in saving repentance and faith, our thoughts, feelings, and actions are decisively changed by Him."As we trust in Christ, he transforms our tastes in such a way that we begin to love the things of God that we once hated, and we begin to hate the things of this world that we once loved" (p. 30).Platt is concerned by the stories of so many folks who have prayed a prayer and then went on to live as if nothing had changed. The reality is, maybe nothing did change! The evidence that one has truly come to Christ is found in how one lives, thinks, and feels.Platt is careful not to say that salvation is based on the changes in our lives. We are saved by faith alone in Christ's finished work alone--in fact, no amount of works on our behalf can earn salvation in any sense. Faith trusts in what Christ has accomplished for us. We cannot save ourselves, and Christians know this.Salvation happens apart from our works, but it always leads to works. Being a disciple of Jesus means that we will bear fruit. Not perfectly, but really bearing fruit. And ultimately, we want to bear fruit! In coming to Jesus, we taste and see that He is good and we begin to desire Him above all else! Our affections are decisively changed."We discover that Jesus is the supreme source of satisfaction, and we want nothing apart from him. We realize that he is better than all the pleasures, pursuits, plaudits, and possessions of this world combined" (p. 29).All who profess to be Christians need to know these truths. Some may learn them, realize they were never saved, and truly turn to Christ for the first time. To God be the glory!Platt's booklet is a great reminder and summary of all of these truths. Therefore, I recommend this resource as very helpful for evangelism and discipleship to aid folks in understanding that following Jesus involves one's whole being. In fact, this is one of the best, shorter resources I know of for such a purpose!

Most Christians ask themselves that question early in their walk with God. Then, throughout that walk, we come back and ask it again and again. Effective and thorough readings of the Bible enlighten us and direct us when we are really ready to allow it. This author uses the scriptures, his own experiences and observations, as well as the leadership of the Holy Spirit to provide this map in words that today's reader easily understand and can follow. Having been a Christian for decades and found God's path for my life at an early age, I was interested to get a take on someone else in the language of the layman. I was not disappointed. In order to fully appreciate the efforts of this author, I would recommend that the reader undertake this reading in a serious mind and read it devoutly, giving it a chance to sink in as you go. This is not a work to be rushed through, saying, "Oh, I already knew that" or "Who can really believe that" even "This just goes to far". Instead it is to be read with an open mind and, like when reading the Bible, letting the words speak to you. I plan to recommend this to young people in my acquaintance and to keep it in mind for those Christians whom I meet that may be seeking the path. Very good.

What Did Jesus Really Mean When He Said Follow Me? by David Platt is another short but very challenging book about truly fulfilling the Great Commission and following Christ with everything. The book is very short but extremely powerful and well worth reading multiple times to absorb everything that is being expanded.This is the second Platt book that I have reviewed and I must say that he has an amazing ability at getting across his challenging points in a short space of time, which is great for the large amount of people these days who are time poor. He really gets to the core of what Jesus meant by following Him and how it applies to us today.The narration was quite good, as it was read at a good pace and his voice was not at all annoying.This book would be a great outreach tool to reach people for Christ but a very challenging book for Christians who are just resting in their salvation and not truly following Christ and reaching out to others.This audio book was gifted as a part of the christianaudio Reviewers Program in exchange for my unbiased review of this work. More information can be found about this and other Christian audio books at christianaudio.com.

Love to take these on mission trips - Thank you Amazon

I love that this book simply and accurately describes what it means to be a follower of Christ without bringing in all the "Christian-ese" lingo.I love the fact it is only 65 pages. It is straight to the point and easy to understand. It can also be a great devotional for anyone to get back to the basics of their relationship with Christ. I purchased several to pass out to those who come to make decisions for Christ as a tool for discipleship. I highly recommend. David Platt is an terrific writer and minister.

I have just come from a hindu wedding in which over 50 candles were lit ... each for a different god. i have worked with this particular group over 5 years, since there immigration fromNepal. Brave men and women who were kicked off there land in Bhutan 20 years ago, to live in camps sputhern Nepal. you may have met one of there brothers in your town as many family members were separated when they immigrated. many left parents behind in the camps... and yet they smile constantly and are so grateful for the smallest gesture of kindness. When you ask how it went in the camps.. they tell of laughter and,most of all COMMUNITY! I work with them because they now are my friends and I pray daily or there understanding of ONE GOD and HIS SON. it will take many more years of loving on my friend, but HIs Spirit is start g to shine through. They all now love to read the bible , ,and all have one in their heart language. Go teach the nations in your backyard.. what a privilege!