Have Faith

Reading

Matthew 15:21-28

Introduction

Jesus has withdrawn from Galilee, along with his disciples.  He's gone northwards to the region of Tyre and Sidon, a place not generally popular with Jews, perhaps for that reason he may find some peace and quiet. 

But someone there has heard about the prophet from Galilee.  She has a problem, she believes Jesus can solve it.  But there are huge obstacles for her to overcome.   And the Lord's attitude towards her strikes us as strange, to say the least. 

When we realise that throughout these chapters Jesus is training his disciples, and the encounter with this woman is an opportunity to teach them something, as well as test the reality of her faith, we can see it in a more positive light.

Faith is something that's really important to God.  Hebrews 11:6 (NIV) says,  "… without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him."

What can we learn from this woman's faith?

Faith Makes a Way for Anyone

First of all, faith makes a way for anyone.  As I said, she had huge obstacles to overcome.

First of all, she was a woman and, in the society of the day, that made her a second class citizen.  Many Jewish rabbis wouldn't even talk to their own wives in a public place, let alone speak to a foreign woman.

And there was her next problem: she was a Gentile.  Gentiles were considered by many Jews as "dogs", slightly better than pigs but not by much. 

And then, she was a Canaanite, descended from original inhabitants of the land before the time of Exodus.

And this story tells us that however far away we may be from God, however far we may think we are, whatever we may have done or been that we feel excludes us from coming to God, we learn that faith is the way back.

God is always looking for faith.  And this faith is not just a vague belief in his existence but it's a faith that drives us to earnestly seek him.

Faith has an Object

We learn that faith has an object and, for this woman, the object of her faith is Jesus himself. 

In verse 22 we see that she recognises who Jesus is.  She calls him "Lord"; she addresses him as the "Son of David", which is a Messianic title.  Isn't it amazing that this Canaanite woman recognised just who Jesus was?

Verse 25 tells us that she comes and kneels before him, and the New Living Translation expresses that in terms of worship.

Who or what do you put your faith in?

Faith has Vision

Next, we learn that faith has vision.

Hebrews 11:1 from the New Living Translation tells us that "Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see."

This woman has vision, she has a goal: with her eye of faith she sees her daughter made whole, set free.

Do you have a vision?

Faith is Tenacious

Next, we see that faith is tenacious.  She asked for mercy, "but Jesus gave her no reply, not even a word," the Scripture tells us.  But she is determined, she's persistent, she's committed to what she's doing, she's active in her faith.  So much so that she annoys the disciples.  They turn to Jesus and say, "Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us."

Jesus turns to her, and he says, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel."  What would you have thought at that response?  Is your faith easily discouraged by opposition?  Would you have thought, "Well, that's it!  I might as well give up now."?  This woman didn't!

Faith is Audacious

We learn that faith is audacious.  Apparently rebuffed, she comes and kneels right in front of Jesus.  "Lord," she says, "help me!" 

Does your faith lead you nearer to Jesus?

The dialogue that follows seems harsh but actually it's toned down by an element of playfulness in the words in the original language that Jesus uses.  The word we see as "dogs" is actually a diminutive of that word.  So it could be "little dogs" or "doggies".

Jesus says, "It's not right to throw the children's food to the doggies."  And this woman is undiscouraged by that!  In fact, she sees a chink of light!  She's almost there!   And, wisely and intelligently, she replies, "True, but even the doggies eat the crumbs under the table."  I may be a dog, she says, but your crumbs are enough for me!

Does your faith punch a way through the obstacles?

Faith is Rewarded

Finally, we see that faith is rewarded!  Jesus was very pleased with her faith: "Woman," he says, "you have great faith!  Your request is granted."  Her need was met, her daughter was healed.

And the disciples learnt a lesson or two:
    • Faith is more important to God than race.
    • Faith is more important to God than gender.
    • Faith is more important to God than history.

    • Faith makes grace available to anyone!

How to Develop Great Faith

How do we develop great faith; faith that is not some easy believe-ism, but a faith that's intimate, living, and dynamic? 

Faith is like a muscle – use it or lose it!  Begin with whatever measure of faith you may have.  Make Jesus the object of your faith.  Identify your vision and take it to Jesus.  Be tenacious in your trust of Jesus.  Be audacious in the face of obstacles.  Reap the reward of your earnest seeking.

Have Faith!

Courage, Confidence, Conflict and Cost

Reading

Matthew 10:24-39

Introduction

We're continuing with the Lord's instructions to his twelve disciples as he prepared them for short- and long-term mission.  It's a challenging passage but we must take it seriously, not least because these are words that Jesus spoke, and if we don't hear what he has to say we might have a wrong impression of what it means to be his followers.

The twelve were being sent on the same mission as Jesus; he told them, '… proclaim this message: "The kingdom of heaven has come near."'  The mission of the church has been the same ever since, and by our very existence as disciples of Jesus, we proclaim that the kingdom of heaven is still near.

In the preceding verses, Jesus has told his disciples they were going out as sheep among wolves; they'll be opposed by religious and secular authorities, they'll be hated and persecuted on account of Jesus;  they shouldn't expect any better treatment than he gets.  The opposition called him the Prince of Demons, the disciples can expect to hear worse!

It's not the kind of pep-talk you might expect when you're being sent out with good news!  More like a commanding officer, on the night before a crucial battle, telling his troops, "Some of you will not be coming back..."

In our free nation, it may seem that being a Christian is all sweetness and light.  Jesus wanted the twelve to understand that wouldn't be the case, and down the centuries, believers have lived under terrible persecutions.  There are signs of Christians being marginalised even in our land today.  We've no guarantee it won't get worse!

Courage to Confront (26-28)

Jesus wants his disciples to have Courage to Confront the obstacles ahead of them. 

He's not afraid of his enemies, and he wants them to overcome their fears too.  There will be casualties, but the battle will be won, the truth will prevail, and they must proclaim the truth courageously.

Some will oppose them, but Jesus says in effect, "Seriously, what's the worst they can do?  They can end your physical life but they can't touch your eternal destiny!"

Do we really believe that?  Does it inspire us to be courageous in the face of confrontation?

Confidence in the One who Cares (28-31)

Jesus wants his disciples to have Confidence in the One who Cares.

He reminds them that, unlike the opposition, God does have power to destroy the soul as well as the body.  (Just for clarity, you do not have a soul, you are a soul; your soul is you.)  But he also reminds them that God is their Father, and they are in his unfailing care. 

Sparrows were the cheapest thing sold in the market as food for the poor.  Even though people thought sparrows pretty worthless, Jesus tells us that God cares about them.  So how much more does he care for you?  You're worth much more to your Father in heaven than a whole flock of sparrows!  He's intimately concerned with the minutest details of your life: even the hairs on your head are numbered (not literally of course—don't get your magnifying glass out!).

Now, we have to remember that the sparrows still fell!  God's intimate care doesn't mean we're immune to persecution or oppression, or even death!  But, come what may, we can't be robbed of our eternal destiny!

Do we have confidence in the One who cares for us?

Conversion amid Conflict (32-36)

Jesus tells them they will be Conversions amid the Conflict.

Some who hear the message will welcome it.  Others won't.  Jesus tells us there's a difference between those who openly acknowledge him and those who don't.  Those who acknowledge him before others will come to share in the eternal destiny that Christ has for us.  But I think it has benefit for our relationship with God in this life too!

When I became a Christian, it was easy to tell Christian schoolfriends what I'd done.  When the challenge came to tell some who weren't Christians, and I did it, even though they thought I was nuts, my faith blossomed!  It was even more difficult telling my parents, but what a difference it made to me when I did, even though they told me just what they thought about it!

This illustrates what Jesus said: 'Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth.  I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. … A man's enemies will be the members of his own household.'

But hold on a minute!  When Jesus was born, didn't the angel say, 'Peace on earth'?  Isn't Jesus the Prince of Peace?

God's means of making peace was truly on earth.  When we turn from our old, rebellious, sinful ways, and put our trust in Jesus for redemption and reconciliation with God, he becomes our Prince of Peace.  But from the world's perspective, we've taken sides with the enemy!

Our lives challenge the way of life of others, however graciously we express our faith.  In a sense, when I became a Christian, it's as though I rejected the way my parents brought me up, and they didn't like that.  We had good relationships when I was older and they realised I wasn't going through a phase.  But they never really got it.  There was still a division there.

My experiences are trivial.  Think of the Muslim who converts to Christ.  Blasphemy!  Worthy of death!  Think of Christians in communist lands, who were no threat to the regime, law-abiding people whose crime was to acknowledge a higher authority.  Worthy of imprisonment, torture, execution!

The church in China grew like wildfire.  Even though there was conflict, there were innumerable conversions as a result of the courage of the Lord's people.

Counting the Cost (36-39)

Jesus tells his disciples that for those who turn to him there's a Cost to be Counted. 

He must be the most important person in our lives, and following him the most important thing.

Doesn't the Bible tell us to honour our parents?  Yes, but we must love Jesus more.

Doesn't the Bible teach us to take great care of our children?  Yes, but we must love Jesus more.

If we don't, he says we're not worthy of him.

He talks about taking up the cross.  The disciples would have known what he meant; the Romans didn't crucify people in private.  Jesus says, count yourselves dead; go out and die.  Do that and you'll live forever.  Choose not to, and you'll lose everything.

Closing Comments

This has not been an easy passage to preach on.  You may think the Lord's words here the most discouraging words he uttered.  But we can't just pick out the nice bits and ignore the rest.

We learn that if we call Jesus Lord, then he has first claim on our lives.  We must be willing to bear his reproach.

We also learn about the Father's love, how precious we are to him, and our eternal security.  And, yes, be encouraged by those things: that's why he told the twelve disciples about them. 

Because of these things, let's be bold for Jesus.  If God is for us, who can be against us?

Trusting and Knowing

Reading

John 14:1-14

Trusting

The passage we're thinking about sits in the Lord's final teaching session with his disciples, on the evening of his arrest.  Through chapters 13 to 17 we see Jesus building things into the lives of his disciples to prepare them for what's to come, and for the work that lies ahead of them.

The disciples had no real understanding that their whole world was about to be shattered: their hopes and expectations, from their perspective, were about to end in disaster.  But Jesus knew what was about to happen. 

The Lord knew he was about to be arrested, tried and crucified but his thoughts at this time are for his disciples.  He's washed their feet, he's predicted his betrayal, he's predicted Peter's denial. 

In our passage we see him encouraging them.  He says, "Do not LET your hearts be troubled."

Jesus implies there's a choice to make when we face extreme circumstances which can cause worry and anxiety.  Perhaps you're aware of people facing our current situation with fear.  But Jesus says, "Do not LET your hearts be troubled."

Worry and anxiety are corrosive; they can undermine our confidence and make us unable to act.  But Jesus says, "Do not LET your hearts be troubled."

It's a choice that we are able to make.  We can choose how we allow external things to affect us internally:  we can allow them to trouble our hearts, or we can use the FAITH that God has given us.  If worry and anxiety is a poison, then faith is the antidote.  I don't mean to imply that all this is easy.  If these things have already got a grip on us, we may have a battle on our hands, and we need to take courage and fight with faith.

The Lord reminds them of their basis for faith.  He says, "You believe in God; believe also in me."  The New Living Translation expresses the Lord's words in a way that brings out the real meaning of this more clearly.  It says, "Trust in God, and trust also in me." 

Belief is much, much more than thinking there is a God somewhere.  True belief says, "In these circumstances, I have my God to rely on, and he will see me through!"

Jesus goes on with words to the effect of, "You are secure.  I am making sure of that.  Come what may, you will always be with me!"

We have other promises in scripture that encourage us.

Psalm 55:22 "Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you."  The circumstances may not change but God will see us through.  He is our strong ally in the fight.

1 Peter 5:7 "Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you."  We can tell him how we feel.  He has broad shoulders.  And he cares for YOU!

None of this means that we shouldn't plan or act to deal with our circumstances.  Worry can stop us in our tracks; faith in the God who cares, who sustains, and who holds us securely frees us to do things we need to do.

Are you worrying, or trusting?

Knowing

The Lord has told his disciples that he'll make sure they finish up in the place where he is going.  Then he tells them, "You know the way to the place where I am going."

What happens next shows that its only too possible to spend time around Jesus and still miss the point.  Good old Thomas chimes in with, "Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way?"

In the Greek, the Lord's response begins with two words where one would do:  ego emai.  It would have been enough to say, emai, which means "I am."  By adding ego, Jesus makes an emphatic reference to himself: "I, I am the way and the truth and the life."  (Did you get that, Thomas?)

There are many "I am" passages in John's gospel where Jesus uses the same emphasis.  Some of them caused great offence to his opposers because, in speaking this way, Jesus took for himself the Old Testament name for God revealed to Moses, when God said:  "… say to the Israelites, 'I Am has sent me to you.'"

This use of language and the words spoken by Jesus further on in our passage contribute to our understanding about the divinity of Christ and our belief in the Trinity, but we don't have time to explore that today.

But one thing we can take away from the Lord's words today is that our salvation is rooted in a person, not a system of belief, or the practice of religion.

• We're not saved by going to church – which is a good thing in our present circumstances!
• We're not saved by living good lives – although being saved should mean that we do!
• We're not saved by our knowledge of theology and doctrine – although these things inform us what God is like and how best to serve and please him.

Our salvation is much more certain than that.  We're saved by the Son of God himself.  We're called to walk with him.  We're called into relationship with him. 

• He, himself, is the way to our eternal destination.
• He, himself, is the embodiment of truth about God.
• He, himself, is the life we need.

John wrote in his first epistle, "However has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life." (1 John 5:12).  It's having the Son, not just knowledge about him, that matters.  Jesus said, "No-one comes to the Father except through me."  He's the only way there is; but he's the certain way and he makes himself freely available to us.

Let me ask you, do you know Jesus?

• If your answer to that question is, "Yes," then trust him, in whatever circumstances you face.  Trust him with every fibre of your being.  He will not fail you.

• If your honest answer to that question is, "Well, no, not really,"  then let me encourage you to search for him with every fibre of your being.  It's imperative that we know him for ourselves.

Let me finish by saying, if you go looking for Jesus you can be sure that he will find you!

What can we Learn from Nicodemus?

Readings

John 3:1-21; Numbers 21:4-8; John 7:45-52; John 19:38-42

Introduction

This morning, we've heard everything the Bible has to say about a man called Nicodemus, and I'd like us to spend some time looking at what we learn about him and from his story.

John tells us that Nicodemus was a Pharisee and a member of the Sanhedrin, the Jewish ruling council.  These two facts tell us something about his beliefs and lifestyle, and something about his significance in the society of the day.

• The Pharisees were a minority Jewish sect concerned with rigorous keeping of the Torah and the rules placed around it to avoid accidental transgression.  The apostle Paul was also a Pharisee and, when writing to the Philippians, he was able to say that as far as righteousness based on the law was concerned he was faultless.  Such was the claim of a zealous Pharisee.
• The Sanhedrin in Jerusalem had jurisdiction throughout the region of Judea.  It had its own powers of arrest, and had authority in civil and criminal matters in all cases except where the penalty was death; they had to refer those cases to the Roman procurator to have the sentence confirmed – which is why they had to take Jesus to Pilate to have him executed.

So we can see that Nicodemus was a very religious and righteous man, and an important figure in the nation.  He would seem to have a lot going for him.  He also seems to have been different from other Pharisees who Jesus encountered, most of whom were intent on catching him out.  Nicodemus seems to have been a genuine seeker, and perhaps he saw in Jesus something more than his devout law-keeping could give him.

His Encounter with Jesus

Nicodemus would have been well aware of the disquiet about Jesus among fellow Pharisees and in the Sanhedrin.  If he'd been sent out with some of the other Pharisees to check up on Jesus, he would have seen him in action, would have heard him speaking.  He may have heard reports of Jesus saying, "… unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees … you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 5:20)

Most Pharisees seemed to disapprove of Jesus for doing things like healing people on the sabbath but something didn't sit quite right with Nicodemus…  How could a "sinner" do the things Jesus was doing?  Surely God must be involved in this somehow?  So he decided to find out for himself what was going on.  He found out where Jesus was staying and went to visit him by night.

Why did he go by night?  Well, it may be that during the day, with the other Pharisees around, he wouldn't dare to ask the questions on his heart.  As our second reading from John shows, taking Jesus seriously wouldn't have put him in a good light among the ruling council.  So he went secretly, under the cover of darkness, through the unlit streets to the place where Jesus was staying.

We can imagine Nicodemus being invited in and led into the room where Jesus was.  They sit down together.  I can imagine Jesus saying, "And how can I help you, Nicodemus," then waiting patiently for Nicodemus to gather his thoughts and frame his opening line – a bit like when you go to the doctor's with an embarrassing problem and don't know where to begin.  Then it comes: "Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God.  For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him."

The last verse of chapter two tells us that Jesus knew what was in the hearts of people.  Jesus can see into Nicodemus's heart.  There were probably all sorts of questions about the expected kingdom of God and his place in it.  Jesus can read the subtext in Nicodemus's whole demeanour: "I've done my best, but …"  He looks intently at Nicodemus, and says lovingly, "Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again."

Throughout the world, there are people like Nicodemus sitting in church thinking, "I've tried to live a good life.  I've always gone to church.  I hope it's enough."  Perhaps there are even some here today who feel that way.  You've done all this stuff—but something is missing… And Jesus would say the same to you as he said to Nicodemus, "You must be born again."

We've possibly met, shall we say, "unhelpful" people who declare, "I'm a born-again Christian," and we may have thought, "Well, if that's what a born-again Christian is then I don't want to be one."  But Jesus tells Nicodemus it's absolutely necessary to be born again or, as the footnote in my Bible explains, born from above.

You see, Jesus didn't come to start a new religion; he came to build a new family.  The way into the family is not by the practice of religion; it's by New Birth.

Now, this whole idea was new to Nicodemus, and he found it confusing.  "How can someone be born when they are old?" he asks.  And Jesus explains that he's thinking about it wrongly.  The kingdom of God isn't like worldly kingdoms and you don't get in by you own efforts.  As well as his natural birth, he needs a spiritual birth.  And it's the only way into God's kingdom.  And it's not something he can do for himself: it depends on the action of the Holy Spirit, over whom he has no control.

How to be Born Again

So, how can someone be born again, or born from above?  Well, there's no formula for it.  There's no ritual, not even the act of Confirmation.  It's not something you can do for yourself or that any other mere human being can do for you.  But Jesus and the account of Nicodemus give us a few clues as to what God may be looking for.

The first clue is to be a seeker.  God says, "'You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.  I will be found by you', declares the LORD …" Jer. 29:13.  Nicodemus was a true seeker.  He took risks to seek out Jesus.  He really wanted to know what Jesus was about!  He went looking for his own personal encounter with Jesus.  And that's what we all need, and what God wants for each one of us: it's personal!

The next clue is to follow the path that God prescribes.  Jesus reminded Nicodemus about the story of Moses lifting up the snake in the wilderness.  It would have been a familiar story to Nicodemus, and we've heard the account from Numbers this morning – so we also know what Jesus was talking about. 

In the story, the people had been grumbling against Moses and, in judgement, venomous snakes were sent among them.  Anyone bitten would die.  The people repented and asked Moses for help.  God told Moses to make a model of a snake and put it up on a pole where anyone could see it.  People who were bitten had only to look at the bronze snake to save their lives.  This was God's miraculous remedy.

If you were there and were bitten by a snake, what would you have done?  Ignored the remedy?  Looked for another way of surviving?  Why, when God's remedy was a sure thing?

Now, Jesus often referred to himself as the Son of Man, and he told Nicodemus that he, Jesus, would be lifted up like the bronze snake was, and that whoever looked to Jesus would live. 

Whether, at this point, Nicodemus understood the way that Jesus applied the story to himself, we don't know.  With the benefit of hindsight, of course, we know that Jesus was referring to his being raised up on the cross and dying to pay the penalty that we all deserved for our own sin, and from which there was no other means of escape.

We've all been bitten by the snake of sin and are without remedy of our own making.  Jesus is our only hope.  He is God's miraculous remedy by which the penalty of our sin is paid on our behalf, and the grip that sin has on our lives is broken.

The next clue is an explanation of what it means to look to Jesus.  Jesus said, "the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him."  And, in the most famous Bible verse of all, we read, "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."

So how do we believe, or what does it mean to believe?  It's a whole lot more than giving mental assent to the Gospel.  Last time I was here, Ken gave us a great illustration of real belief, and it bears repeating. 

I've been standing a long time.  I could do with sitting down.  There's a chair over there.  It looks like a very good chair.  From looking at its construction, I believe it is perfectly capable of taking my weight and giving me somewhere to find rest.  I believe in that chair.  This is mental assent, but it isn't really believing.  If what you believe makes no difference to your behaviour, then you don't really believe it!

This is believing.  I'm sitting on the chair,  I've put my full weight on it.  My feet are off the floor.  I'm not relying any more on the effort of my own legs to keep me off the floor. 

• This chair was no use to me while I stood over there admiring its properties. 
• The bronze snake in the wilderness was no use to those who had been bitten unless they went and looked at it. 
• Jesus can only save us if we place our reliance fully on him.

John 3:18 tells us, "Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God's one and only Son."

We have to acknowledge our deep need of Jesus, and recognise that we can do nothing to save ourselves.  If we could save ourselves, why would God send his Son to die for us?  We have to give up on our own efforts, stop thinking we can make it on our own, otherwise we're believing in something else, relying on something other than God's remedy.  That won't work, and our separation from God remains.

Hear these words from the old hymn, Rock of Ages, cleft for me:

Not the labours of my hands
can fulfil thy law's demands;
could my zeal no respite know,
could my tears for ever flow,
all for sin could not atone:
thou must save, and thou alone.

Nothing in my hand I bring,
simply to thy cross I cling;
naked, come to thee for dress;
helpless, look to thee for grace;
foul, I to the fountain fly;
wash me, Saviour, or I die.

When we come to God trusting in Jesus this way, the Holy Spirit stands ready to bring us into God's kingdom by new birth.

New Identity

Now, I hope that you're all born again and know that you are.  But do you realise that when you are born again you have a brand new identity! 

People are defined by all sorts of things.  For some, it's their work that defines them, and they have problems when they retire.  Only this week I watched a news item in which a soldier said that after he left the army he didn't know who he was any more.  For some, it's family that defines them, or a particular relationship, and, when things go wrong, meaning and purpose can just evaporate.

John 1:12-13 tell us that "to all who [received Jesus], to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God – children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God."

When we're born of God we have an identity we can never lose!  We are children of God by right; a right given to us by God himself!  He sends his Holy Spirit into our hearts, bringing assurance of salvation, and the knowledge that God is our Father.  We have our own personal relationship with God, we belong to his family, we're surrounded by brothers and sisters in Christ.  Our future is no longer defined by our past; we have a whole new life to live!

Do you know who you are in Christ?  Explore the New Testament to discover what it has to tell you about your God-given identity.  Maybe I'll talk more about this next time I'm here.

Winding Up

So, what happened to Nicodemus?  Was he ever born again?  We see him trying to stand up for Jesus in the Sanhedrin, exposing himself to criticism in the process.  And we see him helping Joseph of Arimathea bury the body of Jesus, and supplying a huge amount of anointing oil.  Neither of these things are evidence in themselves of new birth but they do show his enormous respect for Jesus, even when everything he'd hoped for seemed forever lost …   

The resurrection must have had a massive impact on a man who had put so much faith in Jesus.  We hear nothing more of Nicodemus beyond what John records but John must have got his information about Nicodemus from somewhere; maybe from Nicodemus himself.  I think that Nicodemus, like the apostle Paul, discounted all the perceived benefits of his culture and lifestyle, staked his all on Jesus, and discovered what it means to be born again. 


What about you?
Are you a seeker?
Are you relying on your own efforts, or believing fully in Jesus?
Do you know what it is to be born from above?
Are you rejoicing in your new identity as a child of God?

Can there be anything more important than trusting fully in Jesus and becoming his follower?