“Come, follow me.” (Matt.
4:19)
“Follow Me, and I
will make you fishers of men.” (Matt. 4:19)
“One thing you lack.
. . . Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have
treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” (Mark 10:21)
“My sheep listen to
my voice; I know them, and they follow me.” (John 10:27)
Whoever continues to minister to me, let him
keep on following me; where I go you will share unhindered companionship with
me. This shared union is what Father greatly values. (John 12:26)
Jesus
never called us to be leaders he only said follow me that's being a disciple.
The
disciples or should I say the 12 left everything behind their homes, their
comforts, even their friends, they changed people, places and play things to be
sold out to follow Jesus. I often have wondered for myself if I have stepped
into that Circle of twelve where I have left everything behind to follow him. I
read a quote that says, “the true test of leadership is determined by how
effective we are at helping others.” Leonard
Sweet
I have
heard it said in churches and in small groups that we need to raise up leaders.
However Jesus focuses on the following. I don't think Jesus ever says follow me
so you can be a leader he just says follow me.
Jesus says
follow me now, he doesn't say follow me
later at your convenience.
For the
last couple years or maybe longer, I’m going to stay longer. My wife could
probably tell you exactly how long. I
have been trying to relinquish the financing part of the business over to her.
She has an ability with finances that I just can't come close to. For years
I've been wearing many hats in my company but this is the one part that I've
struggled with relinquishing. She asked me the other day “do you trust me or
not you know I'm good with money.” She said.
This comes on the heels of our
taxes getting done and some very unwelcomed news. Let's just say I had a
banner year in 2016 and my estimated taxes weren't enough and it's my fault.
Had I relinquished the finances over when I was told to we wouldn't be having
an issue today.
I
tell you the story because it's all good. I have relinquished the finances and
the Lord has been given my wife ideas on how to make the business more
efficient. I am truly excited. The other
side to this is I believe I have been following Jesus in all areas of my life
except the finances of my business. I'm sure there's some other areas right now
but I can't think of them. Today as a follower of Jesus I believe I am
following him in all areas of my life now.
That could all change though. I
have found that sin is very sneaky. I
have to be on my toes or should I say Follow Jesus more intimately?
Are
you in the circle of Twelve?
….In
the Twelve, we follow Jesus to the places of leaving all. Crosby, Robert. The
One Jesus Loves:
