Heritage: A tradition in search of followers
February 7, 2010
 

Where have I been? After four weeks of writing an article for this publication just beneath the cross on the front, I saw the statement, Our Vision: “To see ordinary
people encounter God and be transformed into extraordinary followers of Jesus
Christ.” Woven into the fabric of this Vision Statement is the fact that ordinary people follow Jesus Christ because ordinary people like you and me invited them to join us in our Christian journey.
There is a vast difference between a person who follows Jesus Christ and a
person who admires Him.

• An “admirer” is one who regards with wonder, approval and admiration. An admirer usually stands on the sideline and looks with admiration but does NOT follow Jesus Christ. Read about the rich young ruler in Mark 10:17-22.
• A follower commits his life as a servant and seeks to “be like” Jesus Christ. A follower does not follow with perfection but with consistency (staying with it). The followers were faithful in their service to Jesus Christ in Luke 12:35-40.

Jesus calls you to be his followers…. are you?

• Commitment is a guarantee, a pledge, an obligation.
• Commitment is the first step in our following Jesus Christ. It involves a strong commitment to our fellow workers in the church, who have also made a commitment to follow Jesus Christ in service through the church.

Earlier I wrote about following Jesus, not with perfection but
consistency (staying with it). For our commitment to have a strong impact on others we must be consistent. In the church there are those who are “under-committed”. They are followers, but not consistent. They are sporadic in their attendance, giving, praying, etc.

Another group can be identified as “over-committers”. This group is so involved ineverything that they find burnout before they find the joy of following Christ.
Followship calls for commitment to Jesus Christ, which is serving Him through His
church. For you and me that means that our commitment to Jesus Christ empowers us to follow Him with consistency. Wow! Jesus said, “Follow me and I will make you….!”

I challenge all of us to be consistent followers of Jesus Christ.

Together with God,

Woodrow Hudson
Interim Pastor