Follow Me

 My girls were on the stairs.

In an instant I saw my toddler rolling down. She did a cartwheel like tumble and then rolled onto her back headfirst towards the tile floor.

I screamed.

Her daddy sprang into action and threw himself towards the stairs and, in that same instant caught her head in his hand.

I ran to her and held her as she screamed in fear.

In the corner I saw my 5 year old with her head down.

I hugged her and said, “Sister is ok. I know that was scary.”

“I didn’t know she would fall. I didn’t mean to push her,” the tears began to spill as she confessed her truth and fell into my arms in anguish.

“Why did you push her?”

“I didn’t want her to follow me.”

“You are her big sister; she will always want to follow you.”

In our society, the trend is to follow.

We desire to do what others do. Like what others like. Tweet and retweet.

We follow and are followed.

Jesus doesn’t desire for us to follow like the world follows.

The disciples didn’t simply follow Jesus. Jesus pursued them first. 

I’m certain an arrogant fisherman like Peter wouldn’t cast his net over for just anyone who said, “Try again.” Jesus probably pursued Peter before he simply showed up. Peter followed because he was pursued.

We must pursue others. We must pursue friendships, relationships and lost souls.

You have disciples; young ones that sit in your lap and cuddle with you daily.

Do you pursue them?

They are following you.

Do you serve them, teach them and lead them?

Jesus didn’t follow the kingdom, he sought after the Kingdom. 

Jesus says, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:3). The poor in spirit were the beggars who were carried to the temple daily, to raise their hands and beg for mercy.

If we desire to seek the Kingdom, we must become like beggars. 

We must daily kneel, lift our empty hands and beg for His compassion and mercy.

There are little beggars in your home; children, who need you, want you and are asking of you daily. Show them compassion and mercy and become more like them, begging for Him to fill you so that you can fill those who follow you.

Jesus didn’t follow the crowd; He felt compassion for the crowd and fed them.

Jesus calls us to use what we have to feed the lost. Jesus used a little boys lunch to feed 5000, likewise, we must use whatever gifts He has given us to show love and compassion for those He has sent us to.

Feed your crowd. Use your gifts to feed the small crowd in your home by giving of yourself, your time and your attention. Sacrifice your loaves and fishes.

Encourage, teach, and uplift your followers.

Someone is always following. 

Will you lead them, or will you push them away?