"And follow me."

In our culture today when someone says to you “follow me” they usually mean on Twitter. It would be a little probably be a little strange if the person meant to physically follow them on their daily outings.

This picture came up on my "faith related" Pinterest following
and inspired me to write this post.

On Twitter you can follow people you don’t even know personally but you enjoy knowing about their lives. For instance, I am a huge fan of Top Chef Master Rick Bayless. Have I met the man? Nope. Boy wouldn’t that be nice. But I enjoy seeing his tweets about one of his restaurant’s latest mouthwatering dishes. For others you or I follow but don’t know personally, you have the ability to skim through your Twitter feed and read only what you want to read and know about. 

In this continually on-the-go and growing technological age, we have a tendency to treat our relationship Jesus as if we can just find His Twitter profile page, click follow and boom all is great and we have a free pass into Heaven. Jesus is not looking for people to just click his follow button or in other words simply say, “I follow Jesus” and that they are saved and that’s it. It’s very different from that. And yes much more dense than that too…

And He summoned the crowd with His disciples, and said to them, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it. (Mark 8: 34-35)

Jesus is looking for those who will turn away from their self-centeredness. Following Jesus involves “denying oneself.” This self-denial is not a denial of one’s unique personality or to withdraw from all the things of this world. It is self-denial in the sense of disassociating ourselves from our own self-interest in order to serve a higher purpose. Denying oneself is a result of true (lived) faith. It leads us forward into a life in Christ. In taking up our cross, an instrument of death, we as disciples are to die to ourselves. We are then born again as a result of living for Him. In order to be a follower of Jesus we must not live for our own desires and self-interests. We must do what Jesus wills us to do. “And follow me.” This does not mean we say simple say a prayer, bless ourselves, or attend a mass and that is all there is to being a Catholic. Rather it requires active participation and a distinct consciousness. Being a true follower of Jesus enables us to recognize what His will is. And consequently, we accept and do His will.

Keep in mind that for Jesus we do not have to send a request to follow him. He came for everyone and he invites everyone to enter into a growing relationship with Him.

Oh and while you’re here, know that you can follow me on Twitter! @SMorris228