Today’s Post Written By: Rae Lynn DeAngelis
Follow the Leader is a childhood game where a leader performs different actions for the followers to mimic. If the leader crawls on all fours, the followers crawl on all fours. If the leader skips around the room, the followers skip around the room.
This may be a simple childhood game, but following the leader as an adult is serious business, especially when the leader is Jesus.
“‘Come, follow me,’ Jesus said, ‘and I will make you fishers of men.’” (Matthew 4:19)
Sometimes what Jesus asked His followers to do was extremely difficult.
“Jesus looked at him and loved him. ‘One thing you lack,’ he said. ‘Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.’ (Mark 10:21)
In order to be a true disciple and follower of Jesus, we must walk as Jesus walked.
In our childhood game, the leader performed the actions first. Not only did the leader’s example show us the task was possible, but it also showed us the manner in which it should be practiced. Jesus didn’t ask His followers to do anything that He hadn’t already done Himself.
“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)
Ironically, Christians in the New Testament were referred to as followers of The Way. Notice it was called THE WAY, not one of many ways.
“Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’” (John 14:6)
Not only did Christ’s death on the cross provide us with the way to eternal life, but Jesus also shows us the way to live abundant and fulfilling lives here on earth. Two thousand years ago, Our Lord walked this planet Himself. He understands and empathizes with what we face on a daily basis.
“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin.” (Hebrews 4:15)
Jesus came to this earth to show us the way to live. He also came to provide us with the only way to eternal life.
Follow the Leader and walk as Jesus walked.