Follow Me!

My 10-year-old grandson wanted to race me around his house. I noticed several kids and adults had already made that trek. My curiosity was up but my body was not. Then came the proposal: “Hey, Papa, let’s race around the house.” I tried to squirm out of the race but to no avail. I said, “So where is the actual path we are racing?” He responded, “Just follow me.” I did - the whole way around

I did - the whole way around the house. Through the swings, bushes, cars and trees we meandered around the house. I looked for an opening to move ahead but had neither the chance nor the energy. I watched those 10-year-old feet stay ahead of me the whole way. Breathing hard, I fell into an outdoor chair to catch my breath. You might be interested to know that I started a workout program this week!

Jesus also said, “Follow Me.” Christ uses the phrase at least twenty times in the gospels! To follow Christ means to be a disciple – a learner. It means to watch the Master and live the way He lives. It means to adopt His attitude and model His behavior. To follow Christ is a lifetime endeavor. Several things come to mind when we follow Christ.

First, keep your eyes on the Lord. This world is full of distractions that constantly divert our view from the Lord. Prosperity, power and pleasure try to grab our attention. In times of crisis, like now, fear and despair woo our gaze. Following Jesus means continually refocusing our view on the Lord. The Bible says, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus,…” (Hebrews 12:1,2 NIV). Today, focus your attention on Jesus.

Second, keep your heart in the race. There should be a sense of passion when you follow the Son of God. Following Christ is not for the half-hearted. His path sometimes leads through persecution, trouble and suffering. I am constantly humbled when I read stories of Christians being persecuted in countries around the world. They took the Lord serious when He said to take up the cross and follow Him (Matthew 16:24). Peter challenged the church with the words, “For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you. He is your example, and you must follow in his steps” (I Peter 2:21, NLT).

Third, keep your mind on the Word. Following Christ means living as He lived. It is virtually impossible to live as He lived without being in the Bible. The Scripture informs us so that it might transform us. The Psalmist declared, “Your Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path” (Psalms 119:105).

Set your focus on Jesus and keep following on.