Follow My Lead: Learning to Follow

Before we continue, I'd like to ask one thing of you.

Don't simply read about Jesus.

Watch Him.

Notice Him.

Linger with Him.

As we begin this next section, don't feel like you have to keep pace with me.

The Shepherd doesn't rush His sheep.

He leads them to green pastures...

Then He pauses.

He watches them.

He calls them by name.

He studies them.

He knows which sheep are timid and which are bold.

He knows which ones stay close and which are prone to wander.

He knows which ones are wounded and which need a gentle nudge.

To the Shepherd, there are white sheep, black sheep, spotted sheep, stubborn sheep, timid sheep, wandering sheep, and tired sheep. Yet every one of them belongs to Him, and every one of them matters.

He knows their rhythms.

And little by little...

The sheep begin learning His.

They recognize His voice.

They trust His timing.

They discover that when He stops, there is something worth noticing.

Sometimes He pauses because it's time to graze.

Sometimes because it's time to rest.

Sometimes because there's danger ahead.

Sometimes because one sheep needs a little more attention than the others.

I've often wondered if that's why some seasons of our lives seem to last so long.

Perhaps the Shepherd isn't delaying our journey.

Perhaps He's deepening the relationship.

There is much for us to learn about Him.

And there is much He wants to reveal about us.

So don't rush through these encounters.

Stay at the well.

Sit beneath the sycamore tree.

Stand quietly in Simon's house.

Walk beside the sea with Peter.

Watch Jesus.

Notice what He notices.

Listen to what He says.

Pay attention to what moves His heart.

Then choose one small thing you admire about Him and practice it.

Not ten things.

Just one.

Some days you'll remember.

Some days you'll forget.

Some days you'll realize halfway through the day that you completely missed the opportunity.

That's okay.

You're learning.

Children don't learn to walk without falling.

Students don't master new skills without making mistakes.

Followers of Jesus don't become like Him overnight.

Our Father delights in every step we take toward Him.

Every sincere effort to imitate Jesus reveals a heart that longs to know Him more.

And that brings Him joy.

So don't strive.

Don't worry about getting everything right.

Simply stay close to the Shepherd.

Watch Him.

Walk with Him.

Linger with Him.

And little by little...

You'll discover that you're becoming more like the One you've been watching.