Follow

Have you ever been stuck driving behind the same random car for miles? You’re heading in the same direction, and maybe even to neighboring locations. But ultimately, you’re not wholeheartedly following that car, because when that driver breaks off to his destination, you continue to yours. 

Just as it’s impossible for us to follow someone or something accidentally—without a determined focus—for too long a period of time, it’s impossible for us to follow Christ without a determined focus. 

In the New Testament (KJV), the word “follow” is used about 50 times, and a majority of those times refers to following Christ. Of these, the word most commonly translated “follow” is akoloutheo, which means “to be in the same way with, i.e. to accompany (specially, as a disciple).”

The word translated “disciple” or “disciples” in the New Testament is mathetes, which means “a learner, i.e. pupil.” It’s from the word manthano, which means “to learn.” 

Christ calls us to follow Him—to learn of Him.

Over the years, I’ve had great intentions of learning Italian. My family speaks it, and I somewhat understand it, but I’ve never disciplined myself to learn it—I’ve never focused determinedly on it for any length of time. Similarly, I’ve had great intentions of improving my (truly abysmal) violin skills—of learning to play better. But I’ve never wholeheartedly focused on improving. 

To learn of something or someone – to follow something or someone – requires focus. Otherwise, distractions will take precedence. 

We will never follow Christ accidentally. Sure, we might find ourselves in church now and again—just like I find myself looking at my untouched violin case every so often. But I shouldn’t fool myself into think staring at that case equals “learning” the violin. 

Learning of Christ—following Christ—takes focused determination. 

Thankfully, in His grace, the Holy Spirit empowers us to have this determination and maintain this focus (Philippians 2:12-13). It’s not of our own strength, but it is of our own will. 

God does not force us to follow Him—but He calls us to.

To lay aside every distraction, to focus on Him, to follow Him, to learn of Him.

And when we follow Him and make Him our aim, we find He is also our reward. 

What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. Philippians 3:8a