There is a fresh wind of hope and change blowing in our world right now. It is bringing with it the power to restore our lives and our communities to match God’s dreams for the world.
I felt it’s effect while reading “I Am A Follower” by Leonard Sweet a few weeks ago. I highly recommend it to you. Sweet calls us to be followers first and then “first followers”.
Most importantly, he reminds us that there is only one leader, Jesus Christ. The rest of us are called to follow.
The world doesn’t need strong leaders!
In fact, “Followership” is becoming the new “Leadership”.
This morning I was stunned to read these passionate words from Jesus as he unrolled God’s blueprints for the people of his day:
“Anyone who believes in Me is not placing his faith in Me, but in the One who sent me here. If one sees Me, he sees the One who sent Me. I am here to bring light in this world freeing everyone who believes in Me from the darkness that blinds him. If anyone listening to My teachings chooses to ignore them, so be it: I have come to liberate the world, not to judge it. However, those who reject my teachings will be judged; in the last day my words will be their judge because I am not speaking of My own volition and from My own authority. The Father who has sent Me has commanded Me what to say and speak. I know His command is eternal life, so every word I utter originates in Him.”
Wow! Jesus’ identity was as a follower. His words had the power to bring eternal life and to bring things back into sync with God because of His followership.
“Jesus followers” identify themselves the same way. We understand that we are not leaders! We are first followers sent into our communities by the Father armed with His life and message.
The last thing we need is a new breed of leader to arise! What we really need are Fearless Followers!!