Consider this daily scenario for example: you are in the lobby of the Peabody Hotel in Memphis, Tennessee. Suddenly the sound of a marching band booms across the hotel’s speakers and all eyes turn to the main elevator. The gleaming brass doors open and out steps the Peabody Duckmaster – a man dressed in a splendid red & gold uniform followed by five waddling ducks. The ducks fall in line as they strut toward the lobby’s central fountain where they hop in for their daily swim.

This delightful tradition began in the 1930’s when Frank Schutt, Peabody’s manager, and his friend returned from a hunting trip. Apparently they had had a bit too much Jack Daniel’s Tennessee whiskey that day and brought their live duck decoys into the Peabody’s fountain for a quick swim. The ducks loved it and the people loved seeing the enthusiastic birds paddle around – ever since, the Peabody Hotel has entertained ducks in their hotel lobby fountain.

Of course, dealing with live ducks over the years has had its share of mishaps.

Sometimes a newbie duck will wander off to the gift shop, the kitchen area, or even the bar. And occasionally…they decide it’s time to make babies. It is what it is. But the bottom line here is this – ducks are great followers.

And when you stop to think about it, we all follow something. People follow careers, the lure of riches, even people groups. Others follow drugs, celebrities, or sports figures. Sometimes they get on the wrong bandwagon without really giving it serious thought and often, people find themselves following the wrong kind of leader.

Back in the 1960’s Candid Camera aired an episode titled “Face the Rear.” In this experiment, unknowing individuals entered an elevator where everyone else was facing backwards. Despite this being a completely odd thing to do, most individuals went with the crowd and rode the elevator with their back to the doors. Lesson – we need to think before we follow!

Have you ever thought of a Christ-follower as one who was following THE leader? Jesus told His disciples, “Follow Me.” But following Jesus requires we put Him first and walk in His footsteps. In John 14:23 Jesus clearly says, “If a man loves Me, he will keep My words; and MY Father will love him and we will come unto Him, and make our abode with him.”

Truth is- followship produces fellowship with God the Father. As Pastor Steven Furtick has remarked, “The voice you believe (and follow) will determine the future you experience.” The outcome? Religion says, earn your life. Secular society says create your life, but Jesus says, ‘My life for your life.’ Follow Me.

But following Jesus is not a “get on the bandwagon” type of thing. It’s an individual choice! You don’t take a poll of your friends or co-workers before making this life

changing decision. You have to wonder how far Moses would have gotten if he’d taken a poll in Egypt?! What would Jesus have preached if he had taken a poll in Israel? And what if good ‘ol George Washington had taken a poll – anointing him as a king instead of a time-limited president?!

Here’s an intriguing question to ponder – “If everyone you knew jumped off a bridge, would you follow?” Of course, we all know the answer to this is supposed to be no – that would be crazy! But is this really true? If everyone jumped off a bridge, maybe there’s a good reason. Maybe the bridge is on fire. So – if anything – the guy who didn’t jump would be the crazy one! The guy who didn’t follow the crowd.

So what or whom are you following or not following? As Scot McKnight puts it: “Those who aren’t following Jesus aren’t His followers. It’s that simple. Followers follow and those who don’t follow aren’t followers. To follow Jesus means to follow Jesus into a society where justice rules, where love shapes everything. To follow Jesus means to take up His dream and work for it.”

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

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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

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