Stained?

"From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him."John 6:66

Everyone knows the captain is supposed to go down with his ship. It is a sign of loyalty, a sign of courage. Many of Jesus' early followers later came to think that he was a sinking ship. And because Jesus challenged his followers and told them that they would face difficulties, even more of them abandoned the ship and doubted whether following him was the right thing to do.

Following Jesus was not easy back then, and it hasn't gotten any easier today. Jesus challenges us and tells us that we're going to face difficult times. The question is: are we willing to stand with him through it all?

The followers who left Jesus missed out on the amazing things he did while he was here on earth. But those who stayed with him had a front row seat to the greatest events in history. And they became part of the movement of Christ that literally changed the world through the blood stained cross!

So when you begin to doubt whether following Jesus is the right thing to do, think back to those first followers. Look to their example and remember that even when times get tough, Jesus is there to take you to places you have never gone before and he wants to show you things you have never seen. Follow him, trust in him, and let Jesus prove Himself to the world through you because, as His follower, you have been - stained clean.