SUNDAY October 15, 2023

Followers Wanted

Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.”
Matthew 16:24

In a small town, there was a sign placed on a wall that said, “Followers wanted.” In our study in Acts 20, we do see the importance of leading, but before we can lead others to Christ, we need to learn to follow Him.

On a college application form there was one particular question to answer, “Are you a leader or not?” One student pondered the question for a long time as she reflected on her school record which showed no leadership in her athletic or scholarly achievements. She honestly answered the inquiry and said, “No.”

During the waiting period, she wondered if she should have adjusted the facts slightly and answered the question differently. Much to her amazement, a letter soon arrived from the registrar’s office with the following message: Welcome to our college! Next year shows we shall have 1,452 leaders in the freshman class, and they will certainly need at least one follower.

This letter, to me, had so much truth, because before anyone leads, they need to learn how to follow. In Matthew 4:18-22, when Jesus encountered some of the men who would become His Twelve Disciples, he called them and gave a simple command:

And Jesus, walking by the Sea of Galilee, saw two brothers, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. Then He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” They immediately left their nets and followed Him. 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. He called them, and immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed Him.

Have you heard the call to follow Christ? Look into the Scriptures, because you will see that followers are still wanted.

Make sure of your commitment to Jesus Christ, and seek to follow Him every day. Don't be swayed by the false values and goals of this world, but put Christ and His will first in everything you do.
~Billy Graham~

For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!