by: Russell McLaughlin

Follow the Leader

             When I was a little boy, my father used to play a game with me in the supermarket, “Follow the Leader.”  I would get behind him and pretend I was pushing a basket and getting items off the shelf as he did.  He always gave me a treat at the drug store (the kind with a soda fountain) next door if I did a good job following him.  That was pretty wise on his part, wasn’t it?  I was so busy watching him, I never wandered away, asked for extra items, or felt bored.  I was busy following my leader.

            As I grew older my father taught me about the real leader to follow, Jesus Christ.  The first memory verse he taught me was I Peter 2:21: “To this you were called because Christ suffered for you, leaving you as an example that you should follow in His steps...”  As a family, we gathered around the table and listened to my dad read the classic Christian book In His Steps, by Charles M. Sheldon.  My father taught and showed us that before we made any decision we should ask, “What would Jesus have me do?”   

            Jesus said: “If any man would come after me, He must deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me.” (Luke 9:23) Jesus must be Lord of all, or He can’t be Lord at all.  How well are you following Jesus as the leader of your life?  How much time do you spend each day in God’s Word?  How often do you pray? Who do you serve more, yourself or others? Do you stop and ask yourself, “What would Jesus have me to do?”  Let’s follow our Leader, Jesus Christ!