It seems like such a simple thing; "Follow me" (Matthew 4:19). But what must we do to follow Him? To follow clearly indicates leaving where you are and going somewhere else. Verses 20-22 of that chapter (the next three verses) say that Peter and Andrew left their business and equipment to follow Him. James and John left their job AND their father to follow Him.
Clearly there's a cost to follow Him. Talk is cheap. To follow someone requires action. I heard a great quote recently that is very applicable here; "The difference between interest and passion is action." Anyone can pay lip service to a belief, but you've got to put the rubber to the road and act on your words. Get up and follow!
Also, it occurs to me that we follow when we ourselves don't know how to get somewhere. When people started to abandon Jesus after a tough sermon, He asked the twelve if they were going to leave too. Peter's reply in John 6:68 was, "Where else would we go? You alone have the words of life."
Of course in 2014 we can't physically walk next to a bone and flesh person, Jesus. So what does it look like for us today? I guess it means we pray and spend time with him as well as reading the word to see where he leads, so we can follow.
I feel like there's more to say here, but I'm just not hearing it. I suppose the books of Acts and James would be great places to go to see examples of how to follow and how others have followed.
Please feel free to chime in!
Next up is command number three: Rejoice!
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