Leading and Following Part 1: Following

All of us may want to lead people, but we also need to be good followers, especially of Jesus Christ. Here are a few key things about following Jesus.

1. We need to follow immediately.

Matthew 4:18-19 And he said unto them, "Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men." And they straightway left their nets and followed him. In Matthew 4:17, Jesus asked Peter and Andrew to follow him. Verse 19 says that they straightway left their nets and followed him. Notice that they didn’t finish what they were doing or say goodbye to their friends; they followed immediately.

2. We are called to follow Jesus.

In the beginning of Matthew 1:18, Jesus tells Peter and Andrew to follow him. He also wants us to follow him and let him lead our lives. John 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. We are Jesus’s sheep, and just like sheep recognize their shepherd's voice, we can recognize Jesus calling us. Sheep are also cautious of strangers, and in this case, a stranger could be someone pretending to be saved but who is actually not saved—a wolf in sheep's clothing.

3. We will be blessed if we follow Jesus.

John 12:26 If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honor. If we serve Jesus, we will have to follow him, and this verse says that if we are serving Jesus, his Father will bless us for it.

Now that we have talked about following Jesus, here are some ways you can be like him. Ephesians 5:1 Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;

1. Get baptized.

Jesus was baptized just like we need to be. Even though baptism doesn’t save us, it is an example of Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection.

2. Witness to people

Luke 19:47 And he taught daily in the temple. But the chief priests and the scribes and the chief of the people sought to destroy him.

Jesus witnessed to people, and that is what we need to be doing, whether it is at a school, in Walmart, or somewhere else.

Isaac S.