Following Jesus: Humility and Grace

In our small group we are studying Leonard Sweet's book "I am a Follower" which encourages Christians to rethink their lives as ones of following Christ rather than being leaders for Christ.  Christ, the Good Shepherd, is THE leader. . . the rest of us are followers and to even think about "leading" someone to Jesus, first means becoming a devoted, committed, unabashedly courageous follower.  It's simple really . . . it's just that we've been sold a bill of goods that entices us all to be "good leaders," "brave leaders," "creative leaders," etc. When all we really have to do is follow. . . except being a follower has gotten a bad wrap!  It's weak, second-rate, less than the best, lacks creativity we would say.  Not so!  On the contrary it takes strength, courage, imagination, fervor, passion and commitment.

In our study yesterday, one in our group recounted a contrast between leadership that is walled off and unaccessible and followership that is filled with love and humility and grace.  Here is what Susan S. offered the group:

Last Spring,on a trip to Washington D.C. our group was very excited to be able to tour the Capitol Building, the Library of Congress, and to have a meeting at the office of our Congressional Representative.  However, we were not able to access the White House.  With the first group of buildings and people, we went through a metal detector, left our bags in a locker and were granted access.  Pretty simple process for visiting those places, all of which are very important and house very important people's offices.  But, the White House on the other hand, required that at least two weeks before the visit, you apply online by filling out a form giving the Secret Service your name, address, social security number, birthdate, etc.  Only then might you receive a pass to enter the White House to take a tour.  Mind you, we had no false hopes that we would even come close to the President, we simply wanted to take a tour of some of the rooms.  

In contrast to this, several years ago my daughter was visiting Spain.  On a layover at an airport, Mother Theresa happened to walk by.  Graciously and without any reservation she stopped to chat with the girls for a couple of minutes. When she was ready to move on she blessed them, offering them a moment of mercy and love that came from her identity as a follower of Christ.  Then she continued on her journey.  She had no body guards to keep the public from her, as well known and as tiny as she was. . . she simply made her way through life, crowds, airports with the greatest humility and grace in the name of Jesus- blessing people as she went.  

Of course we know that it is the Secret Service's job to protect the President of the United States and that he probably has more threats against him than anyone in the world, but it seems a stark contrast between the two "leaders."  One allows herself to be accessible to whomever she meets, blessing them, praying with them as she encounters them.  Changing lives one at a time simply by following Jesus.  How might we use our lives as followers of Jesus to bless those we come in contact with each day?  Humility and grace might be the key to our followership of Jesus, one who modeled humility and grace in all aspects of his life on earth.  Perhaps it means not taking ourselves too seriously.  Perhaps it also means that we are never as important as we might think we are in the grand scheme of things. . . that our only mission in this life is to follow and serve and bless.


Image Credit: biography.com