Following

Following

Jesus called the disciples saying, “Come, follow me.” And he calls each of us to follow as well. The call to discipleship that can seem so simple and so challenging all at once. It is simple to show the love of Christ to a chubby little baby or a giggling child. It is simple to show the love of Christ to people we feel comfortable being near.  What is challenging – yet no less our call – is to show the love of Christ to people who think and even act differently. What is challenging is to show the love of Christ to people that our family, friends, and colleagues insist should remain at a distance. That’s the rub for all of us.  Do we play it safe, or go bold in faith?

One of my favorite hymns is The Summons, by John Bell, which focuses on the call to follow Jesus.  The second verse says, Will you leave yourself behind if I but call your name? Will care for cruel and kind and never be the same? Will you risk the hostile stare should your life attract or scare?  Will you let me answer prayer in you and you in me?”

My interpretation of this verse is that growth in our relationship with Christ, deep spiritual growth, takes place when we trust Jesus enough to do the hard and risky work of discipleship. That’s not to say it won’t take place when we choose the easy road, however to go deep we are called to be bold. How is Christ calling you to follow? How is Christ calling you to reach out in love? Will you play it safe or will you go bold in faith?

The Summons (v.1) Will you come and follow me if I but call your name? Will you go where you don’t know and never be the same?  Will you let my love be shown; will you let my love be known; will you let my life be grown in you and you in me?

Peace, Josie