Growing up, one of my favorite games was Follow the Leader. Looking back it was a flash of time that was mysterious yet amusing all at once. Mysterious because it was beyond the "followers" power to know what came next and it was amusing because none of us could think of a better place we would rather be. We loved not knowing where the leader would take us but tried to figure it out anyway. We loved taking a turn at being the leader as much as we did being the follower. And we loved trying our best to succeed at whatever obstacles and challenges we would tackle whether we were the leader or the follower
I remember moments and hours of anticipation at every obstacle with small giggles that turned into full bursts of laughter, completely enjoying every aspect of the game whether it was played inside or outside. The game became more intense when our group of cousins and childhood friends would "triple dog dare" everyone to play in the dark house with all the lights turned off. Groping around trying to guess by sounds and slight, very slight vision what the leader's next step would be. What were we thinking!?! Well, we all survived that game without any injuries thank the good Lord!
The Webster dictionary definition of the word follow includes descriptions such as:
-To carry through (as a process) to completion
-To come after in time
- To go after or on the track of
- To act according to the commands of
Andrew and Peter were quite fond of Follow the Leader also. They were just hanging out,
doing their own thing when the great Leader of all walked by. They heard Him speak and began to follow Him.
"Again the next day John was standing with two of his disciple and he looked at Jesus as He walked, and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God!" The two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. John 1:35-37
This began their three year long journey of Follow the Leader. They clung to Jesus, learning the details of following as they listened to Him.
In the Greek, the original language of the New Testament, the definition of follow or following is the word ä-ko-lü-the'-ō, which means:
-To follow one who proceeds, join him as his attendant, accompany him
-To join one as a disciple, become or be his disciple
"Jesus turned and saw them following, and said to them, "What do you seek?" They said to Him, "Rabbi (which translated means Teacher), where are You staying?" He said to them, "Come, and you will see." So they came and saw where He was staying; and they stayed with Him that day, for it was about the tenth hour." John 1:38-39
The Greek definition for the word come is e'r-kho-mī, which means:
-To come into being, arise, come forth, show itself, find place or influence
-Be established, become known, to come (fall) into or unto
-To go, to follow one
You see, Jesus was quite found of Follow the Leader also. He being Leader and supreme authority of all, desires that all will follow Him.
What will be your choice? Will you Follow the great Leader of all time?
Accept His invitation when He says Come.
And when you do come, you will see and not be disappointed.
© Copyright 2011 Simone Lake. All Rights Reserved
