Wow, it sure doesn't seem like it has been eight months since I last blogged here. My absence hasn't been because I haven't had any thoughts. It has been because I have been way too busy. Too busy for anyone's good, probably especially mine.
Lately I have been thinking hard about following after Jesus. That is what his calling was to his disciples, "Follow me."
Following is not necessarily a popular thing to do in our world. We value the pioneers, the self-sufficient ones who make their own way. Jesus invites us to trade all of that glory in for the subservient role of following in the sandal steps of the one who come to give us life.
Following is hard to do. Honestly, it means that I (and you) will be travelling some roads that we would rather not. Jesus walked roads that led to conflict, to sacrifice, to self-denial and ultimately to his death. He ruffled feathers. He gave hope. He associated with the downcast and downtrodden. He championed the underdog. He loved the unlovely. All in all the road that he blazed for us was most uncomfortable. He challenged his disciples to leave everything they had behind in exchange for the adventure of becoming like him. They had to follow hard after him.
The disciples lived the challenge to "contend for the faith" (Jude 3). They were prepared by Jesus to live the calling to follow hard and preserve the faith that they participated in. They became like the master to give away the master's love and to participate in his mission.
This is the same challenge that he calls us to today...to follow hard after his love and grace, to become like the master.
Just my midnight pondering...
