If you are a follower of a football team, you know all about the team–Who the best players are. Who was injured this season. Who was traded. You know how many games they have won and lost. You know when your team plays next. You cheer when they win and get depressed or angry when they lose. You dress in their colors when you attend a game or a tailgate party. You follow, but at a distance. There is no real personal cost to you – except maybe the cost of season tickets.
When Jesus called his disciples to follow him, is that what he was asking? Come and sit on the sidelines and cheer while others do the playing. Be enthusiastic about what is happening on the field, but never put yourself out there?
When Jesus calls a person to follow, he asks them also to repent. Repent means to “turn away from.” It calls for a changed life. Following a football team rarely transforms a person’s life. It may add a little excitement and interest, but the person remains the same.
Repent is not a word we use in everyday conversation. Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary defines repent, “to turn from sin and dedicate oneself to the amendment of one’s life.” It calls for a better life. It calls for action on our part. While God’s spirit works in us to make lasting changes, for only he can change a heart, we must make the decision that we will turn from our sin. We must decide that we are going to follow. It doesn’t happen accidently or automatically by being born into a Christian home or attending church. It involves our will.
Not only do we turn away from something – sin, we turn towards something else, God. We commit ourselves to be followers–to seek God, to live our lives with a new goal. The new question we ask is not what is in my best interest, but what would God have me do, say or think in this situation. It is a transformed way of living. It is not one decision, or one prayer, although that is often where it starts. It is a life full of decisions “to follow.”
Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary defines follower as a. “one in the service of another” b. “one that follows the opinions or teaching of another” c. “one that imitates another”
- Position – in service. We live to please God, to serve God, to do his bidding. As a follower our life is no longer our own. We have turned from our sin and self service to a life that will glorify Jesus. Our life serves God and others.
2. Transformed minds – follow teaching – We study God’s word so that our minds are transformed to think the way God thinks. When our thinking changes, our behavior changes. It is that simple. Garbage in, garbage out. God’s word in, transformed living out. Just reading the words in the Bible won’t make a difference, but seeking to know and follow God through his Word will.
3. Action –imitate Jesus – We follow our transformed thinking with transformed actions and obedience. Life is hard for everyone in some way, and following Jesus isn’t always easy. But the rewards always outweigh the sacrifice. We will eventually face situations where we make decisions to follow what we know God would want us to do, or we will follow what we want to do. True following involves obedience to the truth on an ongoing basis.
Do any of us follow perfectly? No. Following Jesus is a lifelong undertaking, and our God is a God full of mercy and grace, picking us up when we fall down and helping us to get back on track and continue on the journey.
While our goodness or following can never save us, for only the blood of Jesus on the cross can pay for our sins, we must repent and follow to be saved. It is what Jesus asked of his disciples and what his disciples asked of the world. Are you a follower?
Follow: Over a hundred Bible verses deal with following Jesus. Some Key Verses: Matt. 4:19; Mark 8:34; Matt. 10:38; John 10: 4-5.
My Favorite “Following” Verse: John 8: 12 “When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” Follow and you will have light and life.
Repent: Used over fifty times in the New Testament. Some key verses: Mark 1:15; Acts 26:20; Hebrews 6:1; Revelation 3:19.
My Favorite “Repent” verse: Acts 3:19, “Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord.” Repent and you will be refreshed.
Repent and follow. Reap the benefits in this life and in the one to come!
