Follow Me! – Two Simple Points tagged: , , , , ,

Follow Me! – Two Simple Points

Posted by in Baptist Life, Church & Missions, IMPACT Features

John 21:19-23 “Now this He said, signifying by what kind of death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He *said to him, “Follow Me!” (20) Peter, turning around, *saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them; the one who also had leaned back on His bosom at the supper and said, “Lord, who is the one who betrays You?” (21) So Peter seeing him *said to Jesus, “Lord, and what about this man?” (22) Jesus *said to him, “If I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow Me!” (23) Therefore this saying went out among the brethren that that disciple would not die; yet Jesus did not say to him that he would not die, but only, “If I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you?”

“Follow Me!”….an interesting command that is somewhat overlooked in man’s attempt to be religious these days. In actuality, it was just like the Apostle Peter to express the thoughts of most all individuals that subscribe to some form of religion when he asked “What about this man?”. His question was a fleshly one, and the utterance is indicative of just how our flesh interrupts our living at times. Many times our flesh mostly wants to know how things are going to stack up for us; diligently working out an allegiance to a denomination and easily forgetting about the God who was made flesh and dwelt among us. So we ask, as Peter did as well…. “ is this guy going to end up like me?”…or even a bit more precise “is he doing the right thing my Lord?” All of us then… have so many questions, yet we are stubborn to ignore the emphatic command that is moving us into a different way; akoloutheō!

    Never Rest in the Wrong Tradition

If we can learn anything from the Apostles of Jesus, it must have been their ability to fall back into religious habits. Religion it seems is fraught with a continuous repetitive pattern and a notorious habit of the flesh. In counter distinction, one of the main disciplines that I try to teach men aspiring to lead among the church, is that you will always be starting over. Because it is critical that they understand the church is not some achievement, or goal to attain, …. It is illogical to think that “you start” a church and then “grow it”. “It” (collectively as some might envision) was not dragged out of the house…. “They were”. It is much more accurate to recognize that God calls the church, and you tend “them”. Tending His sheep is an affirmation that God’s calling is sure and His tradition is consistent; He loses none of those that He calls. The sheep individually hear His voice and all that He calls follow Him.

Act 8:1-4 Saul was in hearty agreement with putting him to death. And on that day a great persecution began against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. (2) Some devout men buried Stephen, and made loud lamentation over him. (3) But Saul began ravaging the church, entering house after house, and dragging off men and women, he would put them in prison. (4) Therefore, those who had been scattered went about preaching the word.

Followers of Christ then learn to move away from “traditions of men”, and follow the “tradition of Christ”. A hard lesson for the Apostles as well, ….never mind the many disciples that were to follow, which include us today. So, how do you follow today? Is it your tendency to follow the corporate church and not Christ Himself? Do you tend to follow your denomination and not Christ above all? Do the traditions of a denomination equate to the traditions of Christ?

    Imitate Paul, Follow Christ!

Hebrew 13:5-7 Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, “I WILL NEVER DESERT YOU, NOR WILL I EVER FORSAKE YOU,” (6) so that we confidently say, “THE LORD IS MY HELPER, I WILL NOT BE AFRAID. WHAT WILL MAN DO TO ME?” (7) Remember those who led you, who spoke the word of God to you; and considering the result of their conduct, imitate their faith.

1 Corinthians 11:1-3 Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ. (2) Now I praise you because you remember me in everything and hold firmly to the traditions, just as I delivered them to you. (3) But I want you to understand that Christ is the head of every man, and the man is the head of a woman, and God is the head of Christ.

An important sequence that the scriptures forge for us; how to know we are actually following Christ and not some other tradition.

    • First, the Hebrew writer reminds us of our Helper, and to remember those who led us and exposed us to the Word made flesh.
    • Secondly, Paul declared that while he imitates Christ, then we should imitate him (Paul). What a concept! If we know God’s Word, then we know how to imitate Christ and also realize the important work that Paul left to the church. We act out those traditions.
    • Thirdly, Paul echoes the work of God in creation…. Illustrating that Christ is the head,… men lead their families as God calls each individual out , and men lead those who are called out to follow Christ. Pretty simple stuff!….O, but we can make it so very complicated when the flesh takes over!

    • Philippians 3:15-19 Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, have this attitude; and if in anything you have a different attitude, God will reveal that also to you; (16) however, let us keep living by that same standard to which we have attained. (17) Brethren, join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us. (18) For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ, (19) whose end is destruction, whose god is their appetite, and whose glory is in their shame, who set their minds on earthly things.

    What patterns are worth following? When it comes to following Christ, what pattern would you say stands above them all?

    Blessings,
    Chris