This is the picture that comes to mind whenever I hear the term "follow." The classic image of a child following closely in his Father's footsteps. Lately I have been thinking often about what it truly means to follow Jesus Christ. It's a phrase we use so often--"I am a follower of Jesus Christ" or "I am following my Savior." But what does it really mean to follow Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world?First, and this may seem pretty obvious, but following Christ means that we must be willing to be led. I listened to a Francis Chan sermon recently where he was asking just that--are you willing to be led by Jesus Christ? Really. Think about it. Following means that I am not walking where I want to go, but where He wants me to go. It means that He may lead me somewhere that I simply do not want to go--to another country, to my neighbor's house to share the gospel, out of my comfortable lifestyle and into a life of danger and risk for the sake of the gospel. Wow. I even have to follow if He leads me there? Following means that I give up my rights and my desires and I follow Jesus Christ as Lord in my life.
Second, following means that I must go the places Jesus went. John 12:26 says, "If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also." Where was Jesus? Was he living in "suburbia", in a safe, comfortable little house with a white picket fence, far away from danger and opposition? Reading just one chapter of the gospels and the account of Jesus' life and you will see that He was far from that. Instead, we see Him walking among those who hated Him the most, going to the prostitutes and the poor, the homeless--the "least of these." But, look at us. Just like Caedmon's call said, "The least of these look like criminals to me." So, instead of following, I turn away in fear and frustration, criticizing the very people that Jesus loved and sought most. Why? Because "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means, 'I desire mercy and not sacrifice.' For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners." (Matthew 9:12-13)
As I was thinking through these things, I heard Leeland's newest song from their new album (which was just released today). The song is called "Follow You." Here are some of the lyrics:
You lived among the least of these
The weary and the weak
And it would be a tragedy for me to turn away
All of my needs you have supplied
When I was dead you gave me life
How could I not give it away so freely?
And I'll follow you into the homes that are broken
Follow you into the world
Meet the needs for the poor and needy, God
Follow you into the world
The entire song is great, but these lyrics really struck my heart. Because what I am so accustomed to doing is turning the other way, pretending to not see, going back to worrying about what movie to watch or what restaurant to eat dinner at. And yet, what Jesus Christ has called me to do is follow. When I look at that picture of the little boy following his daddy, I think about how much I long to follow Jesus in that same way. The little boy doesn't question the dad as if he somehow knows more, he trusts his dad's leading. He doesn't turn away and start to follow his own way, and if he does, he ends up in big trouble--from his dad and from the consequences of the place he is going. He follows his dad with great anticipation and excitement because he trusts his dad's leading--he is willing to be led.
So what does it all mean?
It means that instead of telling God, "I will follow you anywhere--even to another country" I need to simply follow Him today--
Follow Him when He leads me to give up something that I truly believe I "need" and instead trusting Him to provide for my every need.
It means following Him to buying that homeless guy some food and telling him about the Bread of Life that satisfies and sustains.
It means that instead of condemning and throwing stones at the teenage girl that got pregnant, I take her under my wing and love her the way Jesus loved the woman caught in adultery.
The transition for me of going from living in another country for the sake of the gospel to living in the country I grew up in has been difficult to say the least. In many ways, I am sensing a loss of purpose and clarity and direction. And yet, my purpose and direction in life is the same no matter what continent I am on--Follow Jesus. Or to put it more clearly--be led by Jesus, every moment of every day.
