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Called to Follow
By Jennifer McClure | November 3, 2008
Saturday my husband and I added insulation to our attic. He took the difficult job of being in the attic, which for the most part requires being in an army crawl position, while I loaded the blower. Needless to say, we were glad when that job was done.
In celebration, and also because we felt like we’d neglected our puppy for most of the day, we took our cockapoo, Hopper, to a local park. Though this park does have a playground and a pavilion, the main attraction is the forested trails. A walk through this park is more comparable to a light hike through the woods.
Though we started down the trails early in the evening, it was late in the day as far as daylight is concerned. No more than 30 minutes into it, we found ourselves navigating a deer trail without sunlight searching for a safe place to cross back over the creek in order to reconnect with the main trail and return to our vehicle.
Once we realized we were too far out to get back before dark, my husband occasionally would run ahead to see if a trail would lead to a place to cross. If there was a potential way across, he would venture out and check the stability of the makeshift bridge before encouraging me to step out. Eventually, two large fallen trees and a few unstable steps on a loose log provided a way across.
Though I’m often inclined to lead, it was nice to just follow the path Shawn chose and trust his judgment. Following his lead allowed me to not worry about finding a way out.
In both the secular and church worlds much discussion is given to leadership, but what about the call to follow?
Jesus said, “Anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple” (Luke 14:27, NIV). Being a leader is sometimes so ingrained in me that I forget the importance of following. It is my following Christ that enables me to lead, or as Paul put it: “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1).
Jesus should be the One leading us through life, not us trying to drag Him along. When life is lived that way, so much peace and joy is forfeited. Perhaps God doesn’t command us to live by faith because He thought it’d be an effective method to refine us as Christians, but just perhaps He has commanded us to follow Christ and to live by faith because it’s in our best interest.
Topics: Devotional |
