Happy Saturday

When Following Gets Hard

By Glynnis Whitwer

"And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple." Luke 14:27 (NIV)

"Follow me on Twitter!" the celebrity said. He promised insider information and witty words all in 140 characters or less. There's no cost to follow; only benefit. And if it's not to your liking, just unfollow him. It only takes a few key strokes and you can move on to the next entertainer.

Several thousand years ago, someone else said, "Follow me." Only He meant something much different.

There was no promise of pithy sayings; no offer of ease with Jesus. Though the entertainment value was high at times, especially when He performed a miracle, He didn't leave it at that. He asked for more from those who followed Him. Apparently Jesus never read any marketing books, because He sure didn't make it look easy.

When Jesus invited Peter and Andrew to follow Him, they walked away from their jobs. Others left family, wealth and possessions. He gently turned one away because the young man wouldn't give up riches. But those that followed gave up their rights in exchange for a relationship with the Messiah.

Following Jesus was an all or nothing invitation. There isn't one example in Scripture where Jesus made an exception. And yet too many times I find myself following Jesus with only part of me. In fact, at times I'd prefer the Twitter version of following Jesus. Quick and entertaining, and done from behind a screen.

When all the spiritual decorations are removed, the truth is I've tried to follow Jesus with only part of me. I consider His invitation, and I'm happy to follow Him with my mind and hands. As a writer, that makes sense to me. I'll follow You Jesus from behind my computer. That's enough, isn't it?

Not really, I hear. I want your heart too. Are you willing to let go of unforgiveness? And your legs need to follow me so I can send you to do My work in the hospital, your neighbor's home and the prisons if need be.

Okay then, I counter. I'll give You my legs when I've got some extra time in my schedule. Can I think about that unforgiveness request?

And yet I know Jesus wants more. He doesn't want a 140-character relationship with me. He doesn't want my obedience a few times a day when I think about it. He doesn't want my convenient offerings of service. Following Jesus means being His shadow ... walking in His footsteps to the leper colony, being a friend of the outcast, facing scorn from the religious community, and standing firm for what is right in spite of the cost. It means following Him in the very essence of who I am: The deep place where I submit my rights to the One who gave them up for me.

When I look at it in that light, I realize once again why I want to follow Jesus fully. He gave up everything for me. How can I do any less?

My footsteps on this earthly journey following Jesus are not always steady and strong. I've stumbled many times. Yet I know that following anyone else offers only temporary peace and joy. Only Jesus leads me from darkness to light, and from death to life. I don't expect I'll find that on Twitter.

Dear Heavenly Father, forgive me for the times I've tried to follow You part time. It seems I'm always withholding some part of me, especially when it's inconvenient or uncomfortable. Reveal those areas in my heart that I've kept to myself, and help me become a woman who follows You with complete abandon. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

We are climbing Jacob’s ladder
We are climbing Jacob’s ladder,
We are climbing Jacob’s ladder,
We are climbing Jacob’s ladder,
Soldiers of the cross.

Every round goes higher, higher,
Every round goes higher, higher,
Every round goes higher, higher,
Soldiers of the cross.

Sinner, do you love my Jesus?
Sinner, do you love my Jesus?
Sinner, do you love my Jesus?
Soldiers of the cross.

If you love Him, why not serve Him?
If you love Him, why not serve Him?
If you love Him, why not serve Him?
Soldiers of the cross.

Daily Smile:
Q. What did the digital clock say to the analog clock?

A. Look, No hands!

In The News:

Syria: Twin Car Bombs in Damascus Kill 34 People
Twin car bombs Wednesday morning killed at least 34 people and left dozens critically wounded in a Damascus suburb that is mostly loyal to President Bashar Assad and populated mainly by Christians and Druse, a minority sect, the Associated Press reports. The state news agency, SANA, said two cars packed with explosives detonated in a parking lot between two commercial buildings during rush hour as groups of laborers and employees were arriving to work. A series of car and suicide bombings have struck regime targets in Damascus and elsewhere since last December, confirming fears of an increasing Islamic militant presence among the forces seeking to topple Assad.

College: Students Can't Sell Trees Called 'Christmas'
A North Carolina community college has been accused of violating the First Amendment rights of students after it told a club they could not use the word "Christmas" to promote a Christmas tree sale, Todd Starnes reports. The BEST Society was planning to sell the Christmas trees to raise money for Angel Tree, an organization that provides Christmas presents to prisoners' children. Club members followed college protocol and submitted forms to promote the sale, with the proposed text reading, "The BEST Society will be selling Christmas trees..." But when the announcement appeared on the college's website and in other venues, every reference to "Christmas trees" had been replaced with "holiday trees." The communications relations director allegedly told the students, "We cannot market your trees in association solely with a Christian event." The Alliance Defending Freedom sent a letter to officials at Western Piedmont Community College, urging them to either reconsider their decision to censor the word "Christmas" or else face a possible lawsuit. "It's ridiculous that anyone would have to think twice about using the word 'Christmas' as part of a Christmas tree sale," said ADF attorney Matt Sharp.