“Leave Everything and Follow Me”
A Believers reflection on the sermon “Living Epistle” by Sola Aladesawe
The church auditorium had gone quiet after a roar of applause for the dance drama ministration that just ended, ‘the creative unit killed it’ As we settled back into our seats, rubbing hands together to ease the stress from our clapping, Sister Sola took the pulpit.
“You are the light of the world,” she declared, her voice carrying through the hushed auditorium.
These were words that were familiar to most of us, but this morning, the familiarity of Matthew 5:14 filled the room in a new way that questioned our actions and not who we were. How many times had we heard them, yet struggled to truly let our light shine before others? It was as though the holy spirit was using sis sola to show us that too often we had let the light within us be dimmed by fear of what people around us may say, or our insecurities concerning how this affects our desirability and the distractions of this world.
“You are a letter from Christ…written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God,” Sister Sola continued, quoting 2 Corinthians 3:2–3. By this time, seats around shifted, it’s hard to tell if they were from feeling distinctly uncomfortable or conviction. Perhaps some people in the room were beginning to question if their life was really an epistle, a letter conveying the truth of Christ to those around them. If people read the story of our daily lives, would they see Christ?
Then with more insight, Sister Sola described shortcomings that perhaps may prevent us from being the living epistles like God intends. Using 1 Corinthians 11 and Exodus 19:5, she reminded us that we are called to be a kingdom of priests, a holy nation, set apart and peculiar from the world. Yet how often, even in the body of Christ do we fail to live up to our sacred calling?
I thought of my struggles when I became a believer, the compromise of being “unequally yoked” with unbelievers as 2 Corinthians 6 warns against especially in navigating love and relationships, then valuing the approval of others over obedience to God, because I was always the cool kid, and so I struggled with thoughts of giving up things that put me in a position to be loved and accepted by many to represent the one who loved me above all else. A fresh wave of conviction washed over me, but this time confirming the beauty in my decision and the grace I was given when I realized how far I had strayed from being that bold, uncompromising epistle for Christ.
Sister Sola’s message was not one of condemnation, the more I listened, the more I felt hope and encouragement. We were not left without practical ways to live as living epistles. Drawing from Hebrews 12:14, she exhorted us to “pursue peace with all people, and the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.”
She presented Peace as not merely an absence of conflict, but also an active pursuit of reconciliation, healing, and unity. Unfortunately, these may hurt sometimes, and she acknowledged that, because it’s hard pursuing peace even when you did no wrong but then by the grace of God the holy spirit enables us to push past our obsessions with being right to holiness- being set apart sanctified, and living by God’s higher standard, which is not bent by our feelings.
As she spoke of the blessings and rewards that comes to those who strive to be living epistles, I hoped for a longing to be kindled in the hearts of every believer, even those beyond the room. I imagined a world where the population longed to burn more brightly for Christ and to live authentically as His representative and ambassador in a world in desperate need of His truth and love; it was beautiful.
As I reflected further on the sermon, I found myself doing an internal stock check, re-evaluating my relationships, my priorities, my entertainment choices, my speech, and every aspect of my life to make sure it reflected Christ. I’ve come to terms with although it’s not about perfection, there must be progression, we need to keep taking intentional steps each day to more fully embody the living epistle we were called to be.
If you’re reading this, I pray you follow Christ’s call to “Leave everything and follow him.” I pray you finally surrender all that dimmed your light — the insecurities, the compromises, the love of this world, and walk boldly as a letter from Christ Himself, written by the Spirit for all to read. It would be a daily, moment-by-moment choice, but one worth making, and by doing so, your life’s testimony would bring Glory to the One who redeemed you; Jesus.
