Do you remember ever playing the game Follow the Leader when you were a child? According to one site I viewed, game play is described as, “One player, the Leader, begins moving around with actions that the rest of the players must mimic. Anything — including wildly flailing his hands or furiously scratching his head — what the leader does, the others must Follow. Those players who disobey, or lag behind the leader’s motions are out of the game. The last person standing becomes the new Leader.” It’s a simple, straight-forward game to play and fairly popular with the pre-school crowd I like to hang around! Of course, each game will vary depending on the creativity and athleticism of the person leading. (Anyone recall there being a judge to determine who was “out” of the game)?

So, if it is the leader who determines the location and movements to be mimicked, just when does a Follower say, “I trust this person and I am choosing to do whatever they tell me to do?” Especially, if by choosing to Follow, the leader guides you into Uncharted Territory? Personally, I have trust issues with even Following the advanced technology of GPS, as there have been multiple times that if I continued to Follow where the voice was guiding me, especially in Southern Alberta, I might have never found my way back to Tennessee! I’m cautious about who is leading me and where we are going, especially if we are not Following an established path. Perhaps, for good reason, I was born in the twentieth century not the first. My adventurous spirit would have only taken me so far before I decided Jesus, I’m out! (No Follow the Leader judge needed here)!

The more I read and learn about the disciples, the more my admiration soars because Jesus didn’t provide them a detailed map of the established path He was leading them down; He just spoke the words, “Follow me.” This week I was reminded of a phrase from Tim Roehl’s book Fit & Flourish where he explains that even today, just like with the disciples, Jesus offers us an opportunity to “Follow and Fish.” No complicated instructions to Follow, just a willingness to trust where the Leader is navigating and that even though we might not be able to see Beyond the Headlights, He is guiding us to a place, that if we truly surrender to Him, will provide a more amazing life than anything we could dare to dream. A life that is flourishing and abundant.

Your experience may be different, but this is where I begin to struggle with living a life of faith, and in Andy Stanley’s Faith Full Series, I’m being challenged to Follow and Fish—not just to trust and believe. Stanley shares, “Jesus was so clear in the 1st century that his goal and his agenda for his 1st century followers, and for his 21st century followers, is that we would be people of great faith; but not faith that resides in our head or just things we believe, but faith that is active and gritty in the real world, in the family, at business, at work, and in the neighborhood.” Faith that moves beyond trusting and believing to embracing a more active Following and Fishing. Jesus has never changed His invitation, but I’m worried that sometimes I’m comfortable with the trust and believe aspect, yet I hesitate on the Follow and Fish.

There is much here that I am still unpacking, but I relish being confronted because I truly desire to live the flourishing life that only Following Jesus can provide. My plan is to share more of how I am being challenged in Fragile Faith, so stay tuned!

Please consider sharing any Follow and Fish stories you may have in the comments below.

References:

Collinger, Z. (2019, January 28). How to play Follow the Leader game. Considerable. Retrieved from https://www.considerable.com/entertainment/games/follow-the-leader/

Roehl, T. (2018). Fit & flourish: Discover how God created you to make a difference. Tim Roehl.

Stanley, A. (2021, May 9). Pre-Decide Part 5. Faith Full Series. North Point Community Church. [Audio Podcast]. Retrieved from https://northpoint.org/messages/faith-full/pre-decide