Follow

While he was walking along, he saw a man named Levi son of Alphaeus, sitting in the tax collector’s booth. Jesus said to him, “Follow me,” and he stood up and followed Jesus.

Mark 2:14

Picture it: Jesus is walking along and approaches the tax collector's booth.  Most people picked up their pace to pass by as quickly as possible, because tax collectors were hated.  But Jesus invited Levi (Matthew) to follow Him.  There was something about Jesus and the invitation that motivated Matthew to get up from his booth and follow Jesus.

Understand, Jesus didn't command that Matthew follow Him.  Far from it.  Jesus invited Matthew, who could have refused. But he found Jesus' invitation irresistible.  Jesus invites us to follow Him, too.  

Lost Our Way? Run Faster!

You've seen the programs and movies where someone loses their way, so in order to find it, they run faster and faster only to find they are hopelessly lost.  Yes, I can hear almost every Bride now rolling their eyes because their husbands refuse to ask for directions, they will turn the radio down so they can search for where they are supposed to go.  Thank goodness for GPS, right?  Not so much!  Last time I used my GPS to find a location, it kept taking me in circles.  I finally did the most unmanly thing possible, I stopped to ask directions.  In two turns, I was where I needed to be.  Had I not taken the time to stop, I would be feeding into Henry Thoreau's quote: "The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation."

If we look at the world philosophies, we will see something that will appeal to each one of us...for a time.  Yet, world philosophies offer no lasting peace and satisfaction.  Jesus said, "I AM the way, the truth and the life."  We don't need to ask directions.  We don't need to rely on GPS.  We follow Him!

Follow!

Anyone who wants to serve me must follow me, because my servants must be where I am. And the Father will honor anyone who serves me.

John 12:26

 

This one will be brief, so grab some coffee and try not to doze off.

 

 I like Monty Python's "Holy Grail" movie (don't judge me!) because it's funny, yet it has some good imagery in it that I can use for these devotions.  One of the things that struck me about the movie is that the servants of the nights followed closely behind their knight everywhere they went (the coconut clopping "horse" was absolute genius). 

 

During Jesus' time, the main job of a servant was to follow the one to whom they belonged to do whatever they were told, carry whatever needed carrying, and so forth.  Wherever the master went, the servant was to follow.

 

If we claim to be Christians, we serve Jesus Christ.  And if we serve Him then we are His servants.  And as His servants, we follow Him so that we are where He is.  And God has promised to honor the servants of Christ.  Following can be difficult, but it is ultimately rewarding.