“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.
