Faith to Follow...

Cover Stories: Features:
Faith to Follow
 
 
 
 


It seems that a backpacking group hired a guide everybody called the "best guide in Maine" to lead their group on a 10 day foray into the rugged, northern wilderness of Maine. He was just the sort of savvy man they needed to keep them on track, or so they thought.

After 2 or 3 days of apparent wandering in the woods and a growing sense that their guide was unsure of his direction, the group put the question to him: "Do you know where we are and can you get us to our destination and back?" Slowly and hesitantly, he admitted that he was having trouble plotting their course. Lost was more like it, they insisted.

"We thought you were supposed to be the best guide in Maine," they complained.

"Well, I am the best guide in Maine," he said. "Except now, I'm pretty sure we are in Canada.

Following a guide
Following a leader
Following . . . Christ

requires confidence in the one we are following.

. . . a trust that is warranted by the heart, the character and the reliability of the leader.

All across our churches, we are asking the Lord to give us

"Faith to Follow,
Courage to Serve"
in this coming year.

We acknowledge that the implications (of Biblical faith and courage) are both personal and corporate.

- Not long ago, a teenager told me that she was asking Jesus to help her not to slip into the bad language she was hearing from some of her peers.

That takes faith and courage.

- Another man I know and respect spoke about his need to do the right thing in his marriage, a relationship sadly drained of passion and vitality.

That takes faith and courage.

- And what do you say to the church elder who is beginning to realize that he asserts his personal opinions too often and appreciates others, including his co-workers, too little?

That man is growing in faithfulness to Christ and the courage to serve.

"Jesus said to his disciples, 'If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross [his or her personal responsibility] and follow me.'" (Matt. 16:24b)

Our Lord made the invitation even more simply to another man: "Finding Philip, he said to him, 'Follow me.'" (John 1: 43)

Describing himself as the Good Shepherd, Jesus declared, "My sheep listen to my voice; I know them and they follow me." (John 10:27)

Clearly, it is easier to make a decision to follow Christ than to actually let him lead. Christ knows our humanity so very well and he probes our hearts: "Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You're not in the driver's seat - I am. Don't run from suffering; embrace it. Follow me and I'll show you how." (Luke 9:23b, The Message)

Jesus Christ is not the sort of guide who loses his way somewhere between Maine and Canada. He knows us. He knows where He is going. He loves us. And He promises to lead us and to show us how to follow him, if we are teachable.

In our churches, in our personal and family lives, let's ask Him for a deepened faith to follow, coupled with courage to serve.

I don't know anyone more trustworthy, loving and truthful. Do you?

Written by Dr. John P. Williams, Jr.
General Superintendent