I have a confession.
Sometimes I do not want to follow Jesus.
Oh, I want to love Him. I want to lead a life that honors Him.
But I don’t always want to follow the path He chooses that causes me to do so.
Because sometimes He leads me to places I’d prefer to avoid.
Sometimes He calls me to love those who are difficult to like.
Sometimes He asks me to stay and endure uncomfortable relationships when I’d much prefer to cut my losses and skedaddle.
Sometimes He calls me to follow Him to a place where bitterness is not welcome to join us, no matter how I yearn to settle down with a hardened heart.
Sometimes I let selfishness banish grace to the margins of my life instead of allowing love to rule the deepest center of it.
Some days I am stingy. I hold tight to the hope I have freely received from Jesus, but I don’t so freely share it with others.
The truth is, no matter how much I say I want to follow God, sometimes I want my way more than His.
Even when I know it is wrong.
The longer I walk this faith journey, the more I realize I cannot pray for God’s kingdom to come without the willingness to let my kingdom go.
No matter if I think I am justified to cling to it.
God consistently leads me in ways that are contrary to my natural bent.
1 Peter 3:8-9 encourages me to choose a higher road, one less traveled by the world. I especially like its wording from The Passion Translation:
Now, this is the goal: to live in harmony with one another and demonstrate affectionate love, sympathy, and kindness toward other believers. Let humility describe who you are as you dearly love one another. Never retaliate when someone treats you wrongly, nor insult those who insult you, but instead, respond by speaking a blessing over them — because a blessing is what God promised to give you.
Following Jesus always has a goal in mind. He never leads haphazardly but with specific intent.
His is a following that guides toward harmony with others instead of dissent.
He encourages me to respond with kindness in place of retaliation.
He asks that I allow humility to pave the way before me instead of clinging to a haughty opinion that demands agreement.
In place of speaking my mind, He challenges me to speak His truth with gentleness.
And when I wish to call down fire from heaven to burn up my opposition, He invites me to cover them with a blessing instead.
“Follow me,” the Savior beckons. “Come and go with Me as I lead you closer to my Father and His will for you.”
And I am left with a choice.
Am I willing to surrender my will to pick up His and let His kingdom come in me?