Follow Me

“Why are we whispering?” Amelia asked, leaning in closer. “Listen.” I whispered. “Do you hear the birds? Do you hear the wind?” She was watercolor painting a butterfly outside and she had nearly finished one side but she was distracted by her little brother as he climbed up and down from his chair. In an effort to keep her on task, I lowered my voice and began looking around. As she leaned in close, our whispered conversation continued.

I am not so very unlike Amelia. I am easily distracted, especially when I am running on fumes. Then I am also easily angered, more so than I ever thought possible. Whispering counters my tendency toward loudness, whether my own or the ranting of another. Lowering my voice softens me. It reminds me of how Jesus taught. When Nicodemus came to Him at night, not far from faith, Jesus used the whisper of the wind to educate this respected Jewish teacher about spiritual rebirth. We know from scripture that God speaks in a whisper. (I Kings 19:12) We are commanded when the nations are in chaos to “Be still, and know that I am God!” (Psalm 46:10) Christ follower, there is so much to learn and the world is loud. Jesus still calls to us from the pages of scripture by His Spirit, “Come, follow Me. Come see where I’m staying. Abide with me.” (John 1:39, 15:4-10)

How many times after He called the twelve did Jesus glance over his shoulder to see them gazing longingly at the world they had forsaken to follow Him? Being Christ, His focus was outward but not in the covetous way we tend to peruse the lifestyles of others who move in our social circles or across our newsfeed. Being God, He saw straight to the hearts of those who surrounded Him. Some he confronted, others he healed and forgave. Their faith showed in their actions. The lift of their chin or the reverent dip of their heads spoke volumes. Maybe the disciples noticed. Probably they were overawed or self-consumed. Either way, following Jesus meant walking so closely to Him that the dust from His sandals constantly covered their clothing. Only after they received His Spirit at Pentecost did the scales fall away from their eyes so that they began to see as Jesus saw. (Mark 2:5)

“Peter and John went to the Temple one afternoon to take part in the three o’clock prayer service.

As they approached the Temple, a man lame from birth was being carried in.

Each day he was put beside the Temple gate, the one called the Beautiful Gate, so he could beg from the people going into the Temple.

When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for some money.

Peter and John looked at him intently, and Peter said, “Look at us!”

The lame man looked at them eagerly, expecting some money.

But Peter said, “I don’t have any silver or gold for you.

But I’ll give you what I have.

In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, get up and walk!”

Then Peter took the lame man by the right hand and helped him up.

And as he did, the man’s feet and ankles were instantly healed and strengthened.

He jumped up, stood on his feet, and began to walk!

Then, walking, leaping, and praising God, he went into the Temple with them.

All the people saw him walking and heard him praising God.

When they realized he was the lame beggar they had seen so often at the Beautiful Gate, they were absolutely astounded!

They all rushed out in amazement to Solomon’s Colonnade, where the man was holding tightly to Peter and John.

Peter saw his opportunity and addressed the crowd.

“People of Israel,” he said, “what is so surprising about this?

And why stare at us as though we had made this man walk by our own power or godliness?”

‭‭Acts of the Apostles‬ ‭3‬:‭1‬-‭12‬ ‭NLT‬‬

https://bible.com/bible/116/act.3.1-12.NLT

Peter recognized the faith of the lame man and he saw his opportunity to address the crowd. He had their attention. They all knew the man. How many of them had avoided eye contact, reasoning with themselves that they had done their part already, thinking someone else can share the wealth for a change. Peter and John were on their way to the afternoon prayer service. God arranged the circumstances. They simply responded in obedience. “I don’t have any money but I have something better to offer,” Peter said, holding the man’s gaze while reaching for his outstretched hand.

We see the mark of a true disciple in his obedience to the call of his master. Jesus said, “Follow Me. Follow Me and I will make you fish for people.” He also said, “Go and make disciples.” (John 1:43, Mark 1:17, Matthew 28:19) My life will be characterized by how seriously I take His commission. If I continually put off acknowledging Him for another day, I am not obedient to His call. If I allow self-consciousness or fear to interrupt my obedience, I have made comfort an idol. Only when I am walking by faith and not by sight am I able to deny myself, take up my cross daily and follow Him. (Luke 9:23) I cannot hesitate even for a moment. I cannot look longingly at the world and I will not allow myself an inch of self pity or indulgence. I dare not give the enemy a foothold! (Ephesians 4:26-27)

“As they were walking along, someone said to Jesus, “I will follow you wherever you go.”

But Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens to live in, and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place even to lay his head.”

He said to another person, “Come, follow me.”

The man agreed, but he said, “Lord, first let me return home and bury my father.”

But Jesus told him, “Let the spiritually dead bury their own dead!

Your duty is to go and preach about the Kingdom of God.”

Another said, “Yes, Lord, I will follow you, but first let me say good-bye to my family.”

But Jesus told him, “Anyone who puts a hand to the plow and then looks back is not fit for the Kingdom of God.””

‭‭Luke‬ ‭9‬:‭57‬-‭62‬ ‭NLT‬‬

https://bible.com/bible/116/luk.9.57-62.NLT

“Though the Lord gave you adversity for food and suffering for drink, he will still be with you to teach you.

You will see your teacher with your own eyes.

Your own ears will hear him.

Right behind you a voice will say, “This is the way you should go,” whether to the right or to the left.

Then you will destroy all your silver idols and your precious gold images.

You will throw them out like filthy rags, saying to them, “Good riddance!””

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭30‬:‭20‬-‭22‬ ‭NLT‬‬

https://bible.com/bible/116/isa.30.20-22.NLT

As Paul instructed his son in the faith, I encourage you to “be strong through the grace that God gives you in Christ Jesus.

You have heard me teach things that have been confirmed by many reliable witnesses.

Now teach these truths to other trustworthy people who will be able to pass them on to others.

Endure suffering along with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.

Soldiers don’t get tied up in the affairs of civilian life, for then they cannot please the officer who enlisted them.

And athletes cannot win the prize unless they follow the rules.

Three Questions https://pin.it/2FZDXks2j

And hardworking farmers should be the first to enjoy the fruit of their labor.

Think about what I am saying.

The Lord will help you understand all these things.

Always remember that Jesus Christ, a descendant of King David, was raised from the dead.

This is the Good News I preach.

And because I preach this Good News, I am suffering and have been chained like a criminal.

But the word of God cannot be chained.

So I am willing to endure anything if it will bring salvation and eternal glory in Christ Jesus to those God has chosen.

This is a trustworthy saying: If we die with him, we will also live with him.

If we endure hardship, we will reign with him.

If we deny him, he will deny us.

If we are unfaithful, he remains faithful, for he cannot deny who he is.

Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive his approval.

Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth.”

‭‭2 Timothy‬ ‭2‬:‭1‬-‭13‬, ‭15‬ ‭NLT‬‬

https://bible.com/bible/116/2ti.2.1-15.NLT

Following Jesus necessarily means walking alongside other Christ-followers, corporately worshiping, using our gifts to build on the foundation already begun, of which He is the chief cornerstone. It means spurring one another on with prayers of gratitude and repentance, bearing one another’s burdens as unto the Lord until the day of His return.

“Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up.”

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭12‬:‭3‬ ‭NLT‬‬

https://bible.com/bible/116/heb.12.3.NLT

“But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength.

They will soar high on wings like eagles.

They will run and not grow weary.

They will walk and not faint.”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭40‬:‭31‬ ‭NLT‬‬

https://bible.com/bible/116/isa.40.31.NLT

“So let’s not get tired of doing what is good.

At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.”

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