The Invitation - Follow Me

Two simple words, "Follow Me".  Simple, but with powerful implications.

So often in my life, especially in areas of ministry, I have felt so inadequate... my past is too bad, I don't have the right words, I'm too shy, quiet and unassuming, I'm too imperfect.  How can God use little ol' me?  I think we all question that at times.  If you are like me, you question it too much and let doubt cripple you and keep you from being "on mission" at times.  

The message series that the pastors at my church are currently on is all about being on mission for Christ.  The women's group at my church is currently doing a study in Galatians, to be followed up with Ephesians, Philippians and Colossians.  What we are studying goes hand in hand with the messages that Pastor Edgar and Pastor Nate have been sharing with us.

Though I am late coming to it, I am finally watching the series, The Chosen.  As I was sitting here this afternoon watching episode 3 of season 2, where the disciples who have already been called, along with Mary Magdeline, Mary, the mother of Jesus and Ramah are gathered around a campfire comparing stories.  Several of the men begin to verbally attack Matthew because of his not-so-long-ago activities, working as a tax collector for the Romans.  The verbal attacks cease only as Jesus exhaustedly makes His way into camp after a long day of ministering to untold numbers of people.  He is completely spent.  As I sat here thinking about the people that Jesus chose and today's message at church, I couldn't help but come to the realization that every single person to whom Jesus said, "Follow Me" was flawed.  Horribly and deeply flawed.  It is that way all through the Bible.  All throughout history.

Because we are ALL horribly and deeply flawed.  Jesus didn't look at each person and take into consideration their pasts, their present, their shortcomings.  He looked at each person and He saw them.  He saw His Father's creation in the face of each and every person.  

Simon, who would later be called Peter, was a hothead with some real anger management issues.  He was passionate and didn't always think things through before acting on his first impulse.  Thomas questioned things.  He struggled to believe what he couldn't see.  He had some major trust issues, it seems.  Matthew was a tax collector.  He had turned his back on his people to work for the Romans, which caused the Jews terrible hardships.  And then there is Judas.  The man that Jesus knew before He even met, who would betray Him.  Yet, Jesus said to each and every one of them, "Follow Me".  

Notice how that two-word invitation has no qualifiers!  Jesus didn't say, "Get your act together, clean up your life and then we'll see if you fit the bill to come with me."  Nope.  He simply extended the invitation.  Granted, it is an invitation to a very hard and often lonely life.  But because He endured, we can endure.  

In Luke 9:23 Jesus says, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.  In Pastor Edgar's message today, he reminded us that following Jesus means leaving a life of comfort to serve Him.  It means choosing Him over other commitments and relationships.  Following Jesus means that we are on mission for the Kingdom of Heaven every single day.  My life is no longer about or for me, but it needs to be all about Him.

As I was taking notes during the message today, one thing I wrote down was the question, "What is holding me back from being on mission for Christ?"  One of the first answers that popped into my mind was feelings of being inadequate to serve.  But that is the thing...we are ALL inadequate to serve!  It is not by our own power, but by the power of God through His Holy Spirit who dwells within us.  

BOOM!  There it is!  It is NOT about me and my inadequacies!  It is ALL about Christ and His power and glory forever and ever!  I don't know about you, but that realization is freeing!!!  Because of Christ, His death and resurrection, His invitation to, "Follow Me", we are FREE to live our lives with dominion and authority over sin.  We are FREE to live a life in service to our Heavenly Father.  We are FREE from the boundaries and limitations of this life because it is NOT by or from our own power that we can do anything for the Kingdom of Heaven!  That takes a lot of pressure off, doesn't it?  It does for me.  I only need to lean on Him, to trust that He will equip me to do the mission He has invited me to.  I only need to be willing and available and obedient.