One of the foremost associates of a renowned man of God said something striking sometime ago. He said; “The only thing God told me was to follow this man. He did not tell me any other thing. Whatever you see me do today is what he (my spiritual father) told me to do. He told me to preach, and I am preaching.” This simple statement highlights the burden and blessing of following.
Friend, following has some blessings. But it also comes with its burdens (Matthew 11:28-30). Failure to understand this balance is the reason for frustration and disappointment in the lives of many people today. People want the blessing of following but are not ready for the burden of it. Until you endure the burden, you cannot enjoy the blessing (Hebrews 12:2).
Following Jesus pays. But it has its burden. Jesus never shied away from talking about the demands of following Him. At every opportunity, He stated clearly that anyone who must follow Him should be ready to take up his cross (Luke 9:23). We need to bring this consciousness back to our generation today. We need to go back to the cross of Christianity (Philippians 3:17-19).
There is the Crown of Christianity, and there is the Cross of Christianity (2 Timothy 4:6-8). If you only live your life looking for the crown without making yourself ready to carry the cross, you would only end up disappointed. It is those who endure the cross that would enjoy the crown. It is those who endure the shame, mockery, and demands of following Jesus that would wear the Victor’s crown (Matthew 24:13, Revelation 3:11).
If leadership is hard, then followership is harder (Psalm 63:8). Some people want to avoid leadership thinking that they are better off following. Followership has its own demands. It is the demands of availability, loyalty, self-denial, obedience, alignment, etc. All these will break something in you; your pride, flesh, ambition, etc. But they would also help you break into your prophetic destiny (2 Kings 3:11-12).
Like our opening story says, followers are becomers (John 1:12). Whatever you would become tomorrow is already wrapped in who and what you are following today. The disciples became fishers of men following Jesus (Matthew 4:19). Elisha became a prophet following Elijah. Timothy became a bishop following Paul. They all paid their prices. What are you becoming as you follow?
‘Demola Awoyele
Lead Pastor,
Destiny Impact Church
Akure, Nigeria