There’s a story of a young woman who wanted to go to college but her heart sank when she read the question on the application black that asked, “Are you a leader?” Being an honest person, she wrote “No,” and returned the appellation, expecting the worst. To her surprise, she received this letter from the college: “Dear Applicant: A study of the application forms reveals that this year our college will have 1,452 new leaders. We are accepting you because we feel it’s imperative that they have at least one follower.”
Everybody wants to be a leader in our society these days. Even bookstores have shelves and shelves of books on being a leader – “Dare to Lead” – “She thinks Like a Boss” – and “The Rising Leader” to name just a few. There’s even a leadership book for children called, “The Little Leader.” I was able to find one on ‘following’ – “The Art of Followership: How Great Followers Create Great Leader.” – which brings us right back to leadership.
But interestingly, Jesus calls us to be followers. In fact, Jesus used those exact words 21 times in the Bible. In Luke 9 Jesus said: “If any of you wants to be My follower, you must give up your own way take up your cross daily and follow Me.” Those who heard those words and had that invitation often ran off to their friends & family and flatly stated, “We’ve found the Messiah – come and see.”Jesus was a faithful, trustworthy, and reliable leader – easy to follow someone like that.
Frank believed that 5 was his special number. He was bon on May 5th, had 5 children and lived at 555 East 55th Street. At the track on his 55th birthday, he was surprised to find a horse named Numero Cinco running in the 5th race. So 5 minutes before the race, he went to the 5th window and put 5 thousand dollars on Numero Cinco. Sure enough, the hose finished 5th. Poor Frank. His trust was in a number or the fortune behind a number. Often we don’t find that the path we’re taking is not trustworthy until it’s too late.
Those who would follow Jesus must be intentional – it’s a calculated decision to follow – not just an emotional choice. Authentic discipleship doesn’t follow salvation automatically – always a choice. As Dietrich Bonhoeffer wisely noted: “Salvation without discipleship is cheap grace.” And there’s nothing cheap about what Jesus did on the cross for us! So – let’s check out that Luke 9:23 verse again in the Message Bible: “Anyone who intends to come with Me has to let Me lead. You’re not in the driver’s seat – I am.” So the art of ‘followship’ is a very intentional resolve.
General Eisenhower used to demonstrate the art of leadership with a piece of simple string. He’d put it on the table and say, “Pull it and it will follow wherever you wish.
Push it and it will go nowhere at all. It’s just that way when it comes to leading people. They need to follow a person who is leading by example.” So basically Jesus is calling us to be followers who will then lead others by our example. It’s lead, follow, or get out of the way! “Lead” (take the initiative in guiding others – “Follow” (support the leader’s vision) – or “Get Out of the Way” – (step aside if you’re not contributing effectively.)
A story is told about a young salesman who was disappointed about losing a big sale. As he talked with his sales manager he complained, “I guess it just proves you
can lead a horse to water but you can’t make him drink.” The manager replied, “Son, take my advice – your job is not to make him drink. Your job is to make him thirsty.”
And thanks to the Holy Spirit we really have an easy job. All we have to do is testify and be a witness and He will do the rest. As Acts 1:8 so wonderfully tells us – “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” To the ends of the earth…think Hemet fits that bill?
Bob and Susan Beckett pastor The Dwelling place City Church at 27100 Girard Street in Hemet, CA. For more information you may contact them at Dpcitychurch.org
