If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. Mark 8:34

 

Google the word “leadership” and in a third of a second, you’ll get four billion, one hundred ninety million results. Everyone wants to lead, but all are called to follow.

People want to be leaders! We crave power and influence, measuring our leadership by our number of followers and what we’re paid for our influence. It’s in this world that Jesus calls us to be followers. But following Jesus requires more courage than leading millions. You have to be willing to be on the receiving end of hatred, while paying back in love.

To follow Jesus means to pray blessings for your enemies like He did, even while they’re making your life painful and difficult! Following Jesus means using our gifts to serve others rather than vying for a position at the top. It means our focus isn’t on building platforms of power but instead, we listen closely for the voice of God and do whatever we see Him doing.

Following Jesus will make you unpopular—especially with the religious elite! Jesus loved and cherished the people others scorned and hated. He confronted corruption and self-righteousness and talked about unpopular topics like the dangers of a judgmental heart and hidden lust. Instead of pushing fear-based rules, Jesus modeled a relationship with God of adoration, trust, and surrender.

Jesus is still calling out to the crowds, just as He did while on earth. Here’s what He’s saying: “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me” (Mark 8:34). “…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 8:12).

Yes, all are called to follow!