Courageous LeadersSample

FOLLOWERS

There were always large crowds accompanying Jesus. People hoping to listen, see, experience and receive from Jesus, people with various expectations desires and needs. Seeing this He turned to them and (Luke 14; 25-35) made the following issues clear. He distinguished between mere accompanying and real following and gave them an overview of what real following meant.

Leadership is primarily about following God and through this following God, helping those who follow us, to move from accompanying to following. Whether it is in the family, community, church or work context, the expectations are the same. What are the expectations from a follower?

1. “If any ones come to me and do not hate his father, mother". Relationship to God and following Him should take priority over all other relationships. This relational realignment is a key expectation from anyone who is a follower and one who is involved in leading others to be followers.

2. The anticipated and expected outcome of this relational realignment should be the cross, the cross which signifies rejection, loneliness, unjust punishment, being maligned and punished for no fault of yours etc., is the mandated outcome and one which is offered by Jesus. Though a difficult outcome, if seen from the right perspective, one which becomes a joy to carry, because he walks besides us, helping us to carry the cross he calls us to take up!

3. And a follower is expected to count the cost, and go through this relational realignment and receiving the cross, lest one grows weary and gives up. In the roles and positions God has placed us, be it in the family, community, work place or church, it is important that we count the cost and commit to expending ourselves, if we are to fulfill God expected roles.

4. As you take steps into following this path of realigning, taking up the challenges of this realignment, counting the cost, one will start recognizing that costs involved are giving up everything. When we compare our giving up with the one who gave up everything for us, we start realizing, that giving up is more of a privilege and a response out of gratitude than a burden. This is what a follower is expected to emulate and role model.

Finally, Jesus ends with statement — “salt is good but if it loses its saltiness… it is only good to be thrown out.” He seems to be trying to communicate that, a follower who does not follow these high standards he sets up, is only as good as salt which has lost saltiness, and is fit to be thrown out…. A warning for those who consider themselves as followers but do not live up to the standards which they have set!

Prayer

Lord, Make me your follower rather than someone who is merely accompanying. Amen