Followship

We often hear of leadership, and that's an important attribute, but sometimes you must follow.  Spiritually speaking, if you aren't following, you won't be an efficient leader.  The key is that it matters WHO you are following.

Who are you following? What are you following?

Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. Matthew 16:24

And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. Luke 9:23

And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. Mark 8:34

If you are a Christian, you've made the commitment to follow Jesus.  That's what He expects.  But notice what else he expects.  He expects you to deny self.  In fact, in order to follow Him, you have to deny self first, it seems.

Is following easy?  Is denying self easy?  Often times it's not easy to do either one. You may think it's easy to follow, but if you really dig deep and examine your own life, it's not quite so easy.  It's easy to get caught up in the things of the world. It's easy to get all caught up in the "it's all about me" society we live in.

And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Immediately they left their nets and followed him. And going on from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and he called them. Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him. And he went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction among the people. Matthew 4:19-25

After this he went out and saw a tax collector named Levi, sitting at the tax booth. And he said to him, “Follow me.” And leaving everything, he rose and followed him. And Levi made him a great feast in his house, and there was a large company of tax collectors and others reclining at table with them. And the Pharisees and their scribes grumbled at his disciples, saying, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” And Jesus answered them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. Luke 5:27-33

Reading the scriptures above, it seems that the apostles Jesus called immediately left all they had and followed Him. There was no hesitation.  There was no looking back. There was no clinging to what was left behind.  

Jesus wants your followship.  It's probably not a word, but let's make it one.  

You often hear about Jesus wanting a relationship with you.  Until the new version of the NIV Bible came out recently, that word wasn't in the scriptures, except when used in other places not relating to Jesus.  It seems that some would say this "relationship" because it's like a friend, pal, someone you who can come to you and you can go to and catch up with from time to time.  That word is used to bring Jesus down to our level - our human thinking. That's not what the scriptures teach at all.  Jesus wants to lift us up, not us to bring Him down.

Jesus wants you to deny self.  He wants you to follow Him daily.  He wants you to become more and more like Him.  

Followship.  

For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. 1 Peter 2:21

What Am I Doing?

Yesterday, as I was driving down the highway, this scripture came to mind:

If anyone wishes to come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. Luke 9:23

I began to question in my mind, "In what way am I denying myself that will cause me to walk more closely with Jesus today?"  What about you?  In what way are you denying yourself that will cause you to walk more closely with Him?

From time to time, I believe that it's good to closely examine our lives and make sure we are using our time wisely - in order that we may have time to spend getting closer to God and more closely walking with Jesus.  It may mean having to give something up in order to have this time.  Maybe I will have to get up earlier (yuck!) or stay up later.  Maybe I won't stay on the computer as long.  Maybe some of you would have to give up other forms of entertainment (TV, games, shopping, hobbies) or other self-indulgences.  But maybe it would be just getting more active in 'doing' for others....taking the time to help and serve.  Maybe it would be writing a note of encouragement or calling someone to check on them.

There are many, many ways we can deny ourselves.  The problem is that many times we just don't want to.  Our society says that life is all about "me", to do what feels good, to do what is best in my eyes and for me, and that is all that really matters.  It's totally against the norm to take "me" totally out of the picture.

But that's what Jesus did.  And so must I.  And so must you if you have committed your life to following Him.  He commands that from His followers.  As Christians, we are Christ's followers!

It's a simple plan:  Pray to God.  Read His Word.  Meditate on His Word.  Keep a thankful and grateful heart.  Strive to be more like Jesus every day.  Simple?  Yes! 

Little by little, with each passing day, by following this simple, yet profound, plan, we will find ourselves denying our selves and our selfish desires, but walking more closely with Him each day.  The wonderful thing about it is that, by doing so, others will begin to see the light of Jesus more evident in our lives.  We'll be spreading His message more and more all of the time.

"TURN THE HEARTS OF THE PARENTS TO THEIR CHILDREN"

 Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. ¹² When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. ¹³ But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John. ¹⁴ He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, ¹⁵ for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born. ¹⁶ He will bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. ¹⁷ And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”

Luke 1:11-17

This morning I was reading the passage above as I have many times before, but this time the enlarged phrase stuck in my mind:  "To turn the hearts of the parents to their children".  The angel of the Lord, Gabriel, came to Zechariah and told him that he and his wife were going to have a son.  They were to name him John, and he would go before the Lord in the spirit and power of the prophet Elijah.  His mission was to turn the hearts of the parents to their children and also to turn the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous.  He was to prepare the people for the Lord's coming.

We know that the world is filled with unrighteousness.  It was then, and it still is now.  We know Satan is at work trying to get people on his side.  But doesn't it seems strange that this verse says the part about turning the hearts of parents to their children?  Isn't it odd that there was even a problem with parenting in those days?

Years before, the prophet Elijah was sent to help with parenting problems.  Malachi has almost the same message in chapter four, verses 5 and 6, although this time it not only mentions the parenting problem, but also the disobedience of the children:

⁵ “See, I will send the prophet Elijah to you before that great and dreadful day of the Lord comes. ⁶ He will turn the hearts of the parents to their children, and the hearts of the children to their parents; or else I will come and strike the land with total destruction.”

Malachi 4:5-6

I'm not a perfect parent.  My husband isn't a perfect parent.  Our children aren't perfect.  But, they are not disobedient.  They are not habitually disobedient. They may disobey at times, but for the most part, they want to obey us because they love us - and know we love them.  They also know that because we love them, we will discipline them when they do wrong.

Why is it that parents' hearts would need to be turned back to their children?  Why would that even be an issue in Zechariah's day or in our day?  There are several reasons to examine.  Time.  Work. Hobbies. Activities.  Responsibilities.  Goals.  Pride.  Communication. Respect. We could look at many, many different areas, but in reality, all of these areas go directly to one area:  SELFISHNESS.  Selfishness is the root of all of the other problems.  

SELFISHNESS

Many parents are selfish.  They want "ME" time.  It is less about what needs to be done for their spouse and their children and more about what needs to be done for "ME".  Do you notice as you read the Bible that the people didn't talk about "getting time for myself"?  Do you notice that Jesus didn't go off alone for himself, but to talk to His Father?  If that is the time away we need, that's wonderful.  Because then it is about HIM - GOD, and not about "ME".  We do need time alone with God, and as parents, that alone time may be hard to find.  But don't we find time to do the things we want to do?  Don't we find time for TV, movies, hobbies, exercise, shopping, etc.?  Yes, we find time for what we want to do.  

Turning our hearts to our children will not be excluding them in our day to day lives.  It will be using every opportunity available to teach them and nurture them - in the LORD - not about things in the world.  Turning our hearts to our children will not be making them participate in activities to boost our own egos and to receive accolades from others about things of this world, but to teach them about God, and Jesus, and the church He died for.  It will be showing them a faithful Christian life of service to God.  It will be leading by example.....worshipping together as a family on Sundays and Wednesdays.  It will not be forsaking the assembling of the saints - of the Christian family of God that will help be an example to the children.

So, what if we examine our lives as see that we have become selfish?  What if we realize that our hearts aren't turned to our children, but turned to ourselves - to our own wants and desires?  What should we do?  We need to stop.  We need to stop being selfish.  But how?  The simple answer is to stop thinking about "ME".  Any time something comes up, we must stop thinking about how something will affect "ME".  "ME" can no longer matter.  It becomes about "YOU".  What is best for "YOU".  What is best for "OTHERS".  What is best for the children.  Ultimately, what is best for God.

Maybe we're used to being away from our children all day long.  Our society has a problem with pawning our children off on others.  We expect other people to raise our children:  teachers, babysitters, daycare workers, coaches, youth ministers, grandparents, older siblings, friends, etc.  We want (and maybe even expect) someone else to raise our children for us while we just enjoy the "good" parts....the fun and easy parts of parenting.  The thought process is something like this:  "Someone else can do the dirty work, but I'll take the glory. If there's a problem, I'll have someone else to blame.  It's not my fault."  And that's what is wrong in our society, and must have been wrong in Zechariah's society as well.

No one can change your heart for you.  God can help you and He will, but you have to want to change.  You have to want your heart to turn back to your children.....or to your spouse.  It won't happen without your consent.  Satan will try his best to keep it from happening.

When parents turn their hearts to their children and teach their children about what is really and truly important, amazing things can happen.  The family will be stronger.  Relationships will be stronger.  Love will be evident.  Your family will not be perfect, but it will be stable.  Children will feel secure.  You may have less time for "ME", but you'll feel more fulfilled.  You'll see that life is about more than just you.  You'll see that true joy is found in serving others.  You'll know that you're doing the most important thing - teaching your children about God, Jesus, and His Church.  You'll be doing what God wants you to do and there is nothing better than doing His Will.

 Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. ³⁵ For whoever wants to save his life^[c] will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it. ³⁶ What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? ³⁷ Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?³⁸ If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.”

Mark 8:34-38

I Have Decided to Follow Jesus

This song came to mind a few days ago:  "I Have Decided to Follow Jesus".  I jotted down a few other thoughts along with the song title, then thought about what that song means to me.

For me, the day I decided to follow Jesus, I decided to follow Him without exception.  It doesn't mean that I've always followed closely or haven't had a few detours along the way.  I have.  There have been times in my life that I didn't pray like I should, or study and read the Bible like I should, or strive to live a holy life like I should.  At times I was following, but not very close.  But I never quit following.  That's the key.  As the song lyrics say, "No turning back".

I urge you, brothers and sisters, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them. ¹⁸ For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people. ¹⁹ Everyone has heard about your obedience, so I rejoice because of you; but I want you to be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil.

Romans 16:17-19

I'll never forget sitting in a Bible class and the teacher was talking about worshipping together and class.  One sweet lady said, "Sometimes it's hard to decide whether to come or not."  She meant well and was very sincere, I know, but something struck me as odd with her statement.  The "decide" part.  That isn't something I ever do - "decide" whether or not to go to worship or Bible class.  To me, that decision was decided the moment I became a Christian and had my sins forgiven.  Why would I ever have to decide whether to worship Him with my church family?

Maybe you do have to decide whether to worship each Sunday or Wednesday or to be involved in any works of the church.  Maybe for you it is a choice each time.  If so, please consider this:  What if God made a choice about your salvation each of those times?  He doesn't, and He won't.  That's not how He deals with His children.  But what if He did?  We wouldn't think much about His free gift, would we?  We wouldn't think He loved us as much as He says He does, would we?  So what are you telling God by the way you live?  By the way your worship?  By the way you think about His church that you are a part of?  YOU are the church - the church He gave His one and only Son for!

Commit to the Lord whatever you do,  and he will establish your plans.
Proverbs 16:3

A few of the words in the "I Have Decided to Follow Jesus" song say, "tho' none go with me, I still will follow", and "my cross I'll carry 'til I see Jesus".  When we sing those words, we should mean them.  If no one else follows Him - I will!  I will carry my cross until I see Jesus!  Following Jesus may mean going alone - without your spouse and without your family.  Following Jesus means following daily and not making it a daily decision.  It should be a one-time decision - without wavering faith.  Yes, at times our faith may be stronger and then at time it may be weaker, but it's still there.  The faith doesn't go away.

By taking up your cross daily, you are telling Jesus you are willing to follow Him by denying yourself. Maybe you want to go shopping instead of worshipping Him.  You deny yourself.  Maybe you want to go golfing instead of helping with the food baskets for the needy.  You deny yourself.  Maybe you need more money so you take a job that will keep you totally away from meeting with your church family at all.  You deny yourself.

God will bless those who love Him and serve Him.  He wants you to decide to follow Him once and to keep that commitment to Him.  If you've recently decided to quit following Him, please reconsider. He will keep His commitment to you because He loves you so very much!

Then he said to them all: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. ²⁴ For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it. ²⁵ What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self? 

Luke 9:23-25

Who Do You Follow?

*Used by permission.  This story has a great message!  Have a great Saturday!  Lori

WHO DO YOU FOLLOW?

    This story falls into the category of an "urban legend":

    According to news reports, Lucky, a German shepherd guide-dog for the blind, has so far been responsible for the deaths of all four of his previous owners.

    ``We will not have him put down. Lucky is basically a good guide dog,'' Ernst Gerber, a dog trainer from Wuppertal, Germany told reporters. ``He just needs a little brush-up on some elementary skills, that's all.''

    ``I admit it's not an impressive record on paper. He led his first owner in front of a bus, and the second off the end of a pier. He actually pushed his third owner off a railway platform just as the Cologne to Frankfurt express was approaching and he walked his fourth owner into heavy traffic, before abandoning him and running away to safety. But, apart from epileptic fits, he has a lovely temperament. And guide dogs are difficult to train these days.''

    Asked if Lucky's fifth owner would be told about his previous record, Gerber replied: ``No. It would make them nervous, and would make Lucky nervous.  And when Lucky gets nervous he's liable to do something silly.''

    Jesus spoke about the "blind leading the blind."  I think he would have been just as critical of the "dangerous leading the blind."  Either way, the point is that we need to take a good look at who (or what) it is that is leading us.  Who (or what) have you chosen to follow?  The answer is important because many of our choices are just as deadly as trusting Lucky. There is only one truly safe guide:

    "He who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.....When he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.  Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers." (John 10:2,4,5)

    Father, today I seek to hear your voice.  In a world full of voices that try to lead me down paths that would harm me spiritually, I trust only you. Thank you for your faithfulness that allows me to trust your leadership.  In Jesus' name, amen.

Have a great day!

Alan Smith
Helen Street Church of Christ
Fayetteville, North Carolina

ARE YOU A LEADER OR A FOLLOWER?

From the time our children were little bitty, there were two mottos I would quote over and over to them. One was, "Do the right thing 'cause it's the right thing to do!". The other one was, "Be a leader, not a follower." In fact, the first day our youngest started Kindergarten this year, I said to him, "Remember, be a..." and he interruped me saying, "I know, I know, Mom, be a leader not a flollerer!". Yes, that's right!

We have always wanted our children to do what they knew to be right in the eyes of God and to obey us as well, but we've also strived to teach them to not go along with the crowd if it wasn't what was right. And most parents probably want that same thing with their children.

There is a time when it is better to be follower than a leader. Do you know when? Yes, when we become Christians. When we become Christians, we are followers of Jesus. And just like Jesus told His first disciples (disciple means follower), "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men." Matthew 4:19, He wants us to follow Him, too.

Are you a follower of Jesus? Are you a follower of God? Or do you try to be the leader?

Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me." Matthew 16:24