Words can tend to lose meaning due to the way they get used in our modern day. The specific word I am thinking of is the word follow.
These days we can follow and unfollow a person on social media with one click. There is no commitment to following someone on social media. We can follow someone but not really pay much attention as we scroll on apps like Instagram.
When Jesus used the word follow, it had a much deeper, much stronger meaning behind it. When he came to the disciples he had chosen, He told them, “follow me.”
What was behind following Jesus when he was on earth, following as his disciple? It meant spending day and night sometimes weeks at a time walking with him as he ministered to people. It meant being taught by him while he was performing miracles, teaching about God, and interacting with people.
It meant having ones whole life be dedicated to following Jesus. It did not mean having ones best life now. It meant sacrifice, hardship, but because of that, experiencing greater joy than one could imagine just because of being in the presence of Jesus.
It meant leaving ones old life behind, ones home, and going on a three year journey. It meant having ones mind blown by his teaching and miracles.
When Jesus says, “follow me,” it is not an invitation of convenience with no commitment. It is an invitation to have our world, our life, potentially turned upside down, transformed completely.
This quote from C.S. Lewis’s book Chronicles of Narnia about Aslan comes to mind, “Aslan is a lion- the Lion, the great Lion.” “Ooh” said Susan. “I’d thought he was a man. Is he-quite safe? I shall feel rather nervous about meeting a lion”…”Safe?” said Mr Beaver …”Who said anything about safe? ‘Course he isn’t safe. But he’s good. He’s the King, I tell you.”
Following Jesus is not safe to our way of life and life as we know it may be altered completely, but Jesus is good. He is the Good Shepherd who watches out for us and who will bring us safely home to heaven one day. But he also let us know that in this life, we might have trouble for choosing to follow him.
He will bring healing for our souls, he will strengthen us, he will watch over us, but he will also bring changes to our lives. He is good, the ultimate good. But they may be a price to following him.
Thank you for reading. God Bless.
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