If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross and follow me. Matthew 16:24
As a kid, did you ever play the game, Follow the Leader?
Single file, the children romp across a field. When the leader at the front hops over a stone or claps his hands—hop and clap they all go. They’re playing the age-old favorite game of Follow the Leader.
When Jesus Christ was on earth, he called his disciples to follow Him, saying, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross and follow me” (Matthew 16:24). To the crowds who swarmed Him, He said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life” (John 8:12b).
Many acknowledge Jesus as a great man or spiritual leader. They might say that they believe in Him. But the Bible says that even demons believe in Jesus (James 2:19). “It’s one thing to acknowledge Jesus. It’s another thing to follow him,” Ian Simkins points out.[1] The first people to follow Jesus, were called followers of The Way, (Acts 9:2) meaning, the Way of Jesus. “They weren’t called Admirers of The Way. Or Understanders of the Way. Or even Believers of The Way. They were called Followers of the Way,”[2] writes Simkins.
How does a faithful life of following Jesus happen? It forms as we take in God’s Word with the Holy Spirit’s help and act on it. When we do this, God uses our weaknesses and circumstances as a training ground to transform us and help us grow. As we follow Him through obeying Scripture, He uses our lives accomplish His purpose and bring Him glory.
Following the leader, when the leader is Jesus, results in a transformed life.
[1] Simkins, Ian. [@iamsimkins]. “November 23.” Instagram, November 23, 2023, https://www.instagram.com/p/Czd-qiAsuPx/?img_index=1.
[2] Ibid.
