Jesus frequently commanded people to follow Him, as when He called His disciples. So I want us to consider this command of Christ and what it might mean to us today.
“As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. Then he said to them, Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Matthew 4:18,19
“As he walked along, Jesus saw Levi son of Alphas sitting to receive custom payments. Follow me, Jesus said, and Levi got up and followed him.” Mark 2:14
“The next day Jesus purposed to go to Galilee. Finding Philip, he said to him, Follow me.” John 1:43
For each of these men the call to ‘Follow Me’ meant abandoning whatever they were doing and setting off to be with Jesus. They put aside their fishing or other employment, and what other plans they might have had, and walked the dusty roads of Israel with Jesus.
They went where He went and engaged with whatever He was doing. They were disciples, walking with their Master. They did not call the shots, but submitted to whatever their Master had for them or took them through.
We most commonly use the idea of ‘Follow Me’ in a temporary sense, such as when we follow someone’s car to know the way to some place. That kind of following is to aid us and it only relates to the momentary objective.
When Jesus called His disciples with ‘Follow Me’ it was a much deeper call. It called them into a lifetime and a lifestyle radically different to their normal life. They lost career, personal plans and eventually their life, because they accepted the command to ‘Follow Me’.
Does that command of Christ, to ‘Follow Me’, still have validity today? Was it just a command for the disciples in Jesus’ day? The answer is No! Consider these other things Jesus said.
“Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also
will be. My Father will honour the one who serves me.” John 12:26
“My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me.” John 10:27
“Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me.” Matthew 10:38
So the call to ‘Follow Me’ is a call on all of us. It had a specific application for the disciples, but each of us, as believers in Jesus, is called to follow Christ, including taking up our cross as we do so.
Many Christians follow Christ on a temporary basis, as in being led out of a situation.
For example, someone might cry, “Lord, how do I deal with my fear?” The Lord may well lead them to truth and response that allows God’s love to cast fear out of their life. But the one who asked for that help may then return to going their own way and following their own instincts, hopes and plans.
Westerners have a notion of independence and self-management, reserving the right to make personal choice on a point by point basis, as to what we will do. But one who follows as Christ commands, gives up that right to self-determination. Their only choice is to follow or give up following altogether.
There were followers of Jesus who abandoned following Him when things became too challenging.
“From that time on, many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more. So Jesus said to the Twelve, Do you also want to leave? Simon Peter replied, Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We believe and know that You are the Holy One of God.” John 6:66-69
Many people are given the impression they can add Jesus to their life, like an upgrade enhancement. However Jesus calls us to something far more radical than that. Jesus is not an optional extra, but a complete overhaul of our life and direction.
If you have added Christ to your life then it is wonderful that you recognised your need for Him and put your faith in Him. But now you are on a journey. A wonderful journey that will take you far beyond what you expected. This journey is made by you learning to completely follow Christ.
You will follow where Christ leads. You will follow Christ’s teachings. You will follow Christ’s instructions. You will follow in Christ’s footsteps. You will follow Christ’s faith. You will follow Christ’s voice.
In doing so you will not just look for the occasional instructions to get you out of a tight spot, but you will walk away from things you once held dear and plans you had for your life. You will walk humbly beside your master, mentor and tutor, Who is your brother, your Saviour and your Lord.
He may well take you where you would never choose to go. He may take you away from things you never wanted to give up. He may bring into contact with people and challenges you never wanted to face.
That’s what you sign up for when you respond to Christ’s instruction to ‘Follow Me’. Yet, following Christ also leads you into heavenly glories, and the power of the Holy Spirit in this life, and love, joy and peace, and to purposes this world can’t provide.
Christ leads you to victory over sin and satan, and to power to bless others. He leads you out of darkness and defeat into a glorious kingdom of light.
So, friends, pause what you are doing right now and accept Christ’s call. Quietly tell your Lord that you will respond to His call and yield yourself to a life of obeying His command to ‘Follow Me’.
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