The other day while hurrying through Wal-Mart to pick up just a few things, I had an interesting moment. I was walking at a fast pace to the milk section which is always near the back. And I was walking so fast that JJ could not keep up. He was a good 10-20 feet behind me. I had to keep turning around to make sure he was still coming, and I repeatedly told him to “c’mon”.
As we were going, a somewhat familiar face walked up toward me and said “who’s that behind ya?”
I smiled, and proudly said, “thats my boy, JJ, my oldest son.”
Here is why the moment was so special and instructive for me.
JJ follows me. Its obvious. He wasn’t going to run off while I was trucking it through Wal-Mart. He had his eyes on me, and though he couldn’t walk as fast as I could, he was gonna make sure he was following me.
The 12 disciples were like this with Jesus. They followed him. Very simply, they followed Him.
After the were commissioned out, others followed them. Jesus and Paul exhibited this style of mentoring… following.
Paul told the believers in Corinth “follow me as I follow Christ.”
This gives us a visual image of Jesus going and there being people who followed him, watching his every move,longing to see what He is like and desiring to be like Him.
Then we see this happening in the lives of the apostles too. Peter and Paul especially we see this in the book of Acts.
So I am wondering, who is following me? And who is following you? Honestly, are we passing the torch? Are we being followed by the next generation of those who will live and proclaim Christ?
Is anyone asking of your faith and life… who’s that behind you?