December 2nd Devotional

💧 LIVING WATER VINEYARD DEVOTION

December 2, 2025

“WHEN DO YOU KNOW IF YOU’RE A FAN… OR A FOLLOWER?” 🙋‍♂️➡️✝️

In Luke 9, Jesus is walking along a dusty road 🚶‍♂️🌿 — leaving the crowds behind, heading toward Jerusalem with purpose.

The miracles are still fresh ✨, hope is rising 🙌, and people begin stepping up beside Him to talk.

This is where we see the difference between a fan and a follower.

A fan gets excited about Jesus… 😄

A follower obeys Jesus. 🙇‍♂️

A fan enjoys the idea of discipleship… 💭

A follower lays down their life for it. 💔➡️❤️‍🔥

A fan says, “Wherever You lead…” 🗣️

A follower actually goes there. 👣

And on that road, Jesus has three revealing conversations.

Today we look at the first man — the enthusiastic follower.

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THE ENTHUSIASTIC MAN (LUKE 9:57–58) 🔥

“I will follow You wherever You go!”

He’s excited.

He’s emotional.

He’s inspired.

But Jesus answers:

“Foxes have holes and birds have nests,

but the Son of Man has no place to lay His head.” 🦊🐦

Jesus gently exposes the man’s assumptions:

“You say wherever,

but your wherever still includes comfort.” 🛏️

It’s easy to say, “Lord, I’ll go anywhere,”

until anywhere becomes a specific place…

a hard place…

a costly place. 💼⛰️

And that’s where the story of Patrick intersects beautifully with Luke 9.

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THE STORY OF PATRICK — FROM FAN TO FOLLOWER ☘️🔥

Patrick grew up in Roman Britain in the late 300s.

His family was Christian, but Patrick admitted he was spiritually lukewarm — more of a fan than a follower.

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KIDNAPPED AT SIXTEEN 😧⛓️

Irish raiders attacked his coastal village — violent tribal warriors known for brutality and fearlessness.

Patrick was captured, beaten, and dragged onto a ship 🚢 heading toward Ireland.

Ireland then was a land filled with pagan worship, superstition, and violent tribal rule. 🔥🗡️

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YEARS OF SLAVERY ❄️🐑

Patrick was sold as a slave and forced to tend herds alone on cold, isolated hillsides.

No comfort.

No friends.

No protection.

Desperation drove him to prayer. 🙏

He later said he prayed “hundreds of times a day.”

It was in suffering that Patrick moved from half-hearted belief to wholehearted surrender. ❤️‍🔥

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THE VOICE OF GOD 📣🕊️

After six years, Patrick heard the Lord say:

“Your ship is ready.”

He escaped, walked across Ireland, and miraculously found a ship home.

His family rejoiced. 🎉

Life seemed restored.

But God had another calling.

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THE CALL BACK TO THE LAND OF HIS PAIN 🔄🇮🇪

Patrick had a dream of a man from Ireland handing him a letter saying:

“Holy boy, come and walk among us again.” 💌

Ireland was the last place any sane person wanted to go — especially someone who had suffered there.

It was a land of:

• violent chieftains ⚔️

• Druid priests using curses and occult rituals 🌀

• superstition, fear, and deep spiritual darkness 🌑

This was Patrick’s “wherever.”

It had a name.

It had a cost.

But Patrick didn’t respond like the man in Luke 9 who wanted comfort.

Patrick said:

“I am ready to risk my life for the gospel.” 🩸✝️🔥

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WHAT PATRICK DID IN PAGAN IRELAND 🌍☘️

Patrick returned alone.

No army.

No organization.

Just obedience. 🙏

He:

• preached Christ to tribal leaders and warriors 🗣️

• challenged the Druids’ spiritual control 🌀

• prayed for the sick 🤲

• declared Jesus in places where he could have been killed ⚠️

But God gave him supernatural favor.

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🔥 THE DRUID CHALLENGE — LIGHT vs DARKNESS 🌑✨

One of the most dramatic encounters in Patrick’s mission happened during the spring festival of Beltane.

On that night, the High King and the Druids lit the first ceremonial fire on the Hill of Tara —

no one else in the entire land was allowed to light a flame until they did.

Breaking that law was rebellion.

Even a death sentence.

But Patrick felt the Holy Spirit prompting:

“Light My fire on the hill.”

So on the nearby Hill of Slane, Patrick lit a giant bonfire. 🔥

Its flames lit up the night sky — visible for miles.

The Druids panicked.

They told the king:

“If that fire is not put out tonight, it will never be extinguished in Ireland.”

(They had no idea how right they were.)

The king sent soldiers to seize Patrick.

The Druids arrived with curses, rituals, and intimidation. 🌀⚡

They tried to silence him with spiritual power.

But Patrick stood firm and prayed:

“May God arise, and His enemies be scattered.” (Psalm 68:1)

The king was shaken.

The Druids were powerless.

Instead of killing Patrick, the king granted him permission to preach throughout the land. 👑✝️

That fire became a symbol of revival —

a flame of the gospel that truly never went out.

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THE CALL FOR US TODAY 🫶🔥

Sometimes “wherever” looks like:

• forgiving someone who hurt us 🤝

• stepping into ministry when we feel unprepared 🎺

• serving when we’re tired 😪

• sharing our faith with someone difficult 💬

• trusting God in the unknown 🌫️

Jesus still says, “Follow Me.”

And He still leads us into places that require courage and surrender.

The question for each of us:

Am I a fan… or a follower? 🤔➡️✝️

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THREE REFLECTION QUESTIONS 📝

1️⃣ Where is Jesus calling me to follow Him right now — even if it stretches me?

2️⃣ Is there a “wherever” I’ve been resisting because it’s uncomfortable?

3️⃣ What step of obedience is Jesus asking me to take today?

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CLOSING PRAYER 🙏💙

Jesus,

I don’t want to be a fan who gets excited but never obeys.

Make me a follower — someone who trusts You wherever You lead.

Give me courage like Patrick.

Strengthen my “yes.”

Break hesitation, fear, and comfort-driven living.

Here I am, Lord.

I will follow You.

Amen.

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WORSHIP SONG FOR TODAY 🎶

“I Have Decided to Follow Jesus.”