“Follow
ME” – PERIOD!!
By Karen D’Amore
“Then Jesus said to
the disciples, ‘If anyone wants to be a follower of mine, let him deny himself
and take up his cross and Follow ME [emphasis added].’”
Matthew
16:24 (TLB)
Horses
LOVE peppermints?! Eager to test out this new revelation, I hiked to the
neighboring horse ranch…my pockets overflowing with peppermints. Greeting me, a
handful of curious horses patiently waited as I freed the peppermints from
their plastic wrappers. One bite and it was clear…this newly-acquired
information was true! Within moments, the small group multiplied into a large herd
and the feeding frenzy spun out of control. When the horses kept trying to
steal the peppermints from my pockets, I backed off and continued my walk along
the bridle path. Looking over my shoulder, I noticed the entire herd following
me. As I playfully and repeatedly changed my direction of travel, the herd
followed me everywhere I went. The herd stopped and wandered back into the
pasture once my pockets were empty. For months, I’ve repeated this peppermint
ritual; the results always the same. The horses followed me
“conditionally”…only if and when I dispensed sweet peppermint treats!
How
often we conditionally follow Christ. And yet, repeatedly throughout Scripture,
Jesus says, “Follow Me.” Period!!! At times I have struggled with putting a comma
where God puts a period! He says “Follow
Me,” and I’ve said, “I’ll follow You if…” or “I’ll follow You when…” or “I’d
follow you, but…”
As
Christ-followers, we are called to follow Jesus. Period!
We’re
to follow Him:
…when He’s silent.
…when He says “no” to our plan.
…when He doesn’t answer our prayers the way we think He should.
…when He leads us through undesirable places or circumstances.
…when He asks us to sacrifice our comforts.
…even when His pockets are empty of “sweet treats.”
…when He’s silent.
…when He says “no” to our plan.
…when He doesn’t answer our prayers the way we think He should.
…when He leads us through undesirable places or circumstances.
…when He asks us to sacrifice our comforts.
…even when His pockets are empty of “sweet treats.”
When
Jesus says, “Follow ME,” the “period” should be translated… “unconditionally.” It’s
an all-or-nothing invitation! We give up our rights in exchange for a
relationship with our Savior. Following Jesus means becoming His shadow: following Him through “leper colonies,” being friends
to outcasts, and standing firm for what’s right, in spite of the cost. It means
following Him in the very essence of who we are - -that deep place within where
we submit our rights to the One who gave them up for us.
Following
Jesus consists of remarkable benefits, but also a price. But whatever the
cost, hearing those words “well done, good and faithful servant” will have made
following Him so worth the sweet, eternal “treats.”
How
are you responding to His invitation? Prayerfully surrender the “ifs”… “whens”…
and… “buts”…and “Follow Jesus”…PERIOD!
GOING
DEEPER:
1. What conditions are you putting on your
“following”?
FURTHER
READING:
Married to Dan,
Karen, a retired police officer, currently works as a Manicurist at Craig Berns
Salon and a Foot Care Specialist at Shorehaven Senior Facility. She also serves on the Oakwood Women’s
Ministry Special Events team.
