Follow

Its interesting that in all of the things the Lord commands us, the common factor is to follow Him. When Jesus called His disciples, He merely told them to come, follow Him. Today, that is His plea for each and every one of us. I think somehow we fail to realize exactly what that means. It is often viewed as bondage rather than the freedom it really is.

Consider it this way: All we have to do is follow where He leads. That's ALL. We dont have to worry about what is to come.. about why events take place or how we will work out this or that.. we just have to abide and trust. Peter walked on water when his eyes were on Jesus. But when he looked at the storm, he began to sink. Fortunately for him (and for us), ALL he had to do was call out to the Lord and Jesus reached out for him. Then together they got on the boat.

I have been thinking about Psalm 40..verses 1-3 NIV says mud and mire, but KJV says clay.. I like that.. clay...I think David chose just the right word.. mud is dirty.. but clay.. you know how clay is.. you cant get it off anything. It is sticky, it is filthy.. it is uncleanable.

David speaks of being in a pit.. in a hole.. with no way out.. not only that.. but in clay... filthy, sticky, uncleanable clay. Quite a predicament.. but the result of nothing but ones own actions, ones own selfish desires, ones own plans and hopes and denial of the Lord's will. So here he is (figuratively of course) in this pit, in this clay.. calling out to the Lord.. not just calling out.. but having to wait patiently.. for the Lord is not to be ordered around.

He waits patiently and the Lord hears his cry, and sets his feet apon a rock.. a rock.. the most solid place. Firm ground. No longer sinking. Life is grand now compared to that miry hole. But thats not all. I'm not sure why NIV leaves this out, but KJV says He "established my goings' He doesn't just take us out of that pit and rescue us from sinking sand. He doesnt just set our feet on firm ground. He goes even farther. He gives us a path to walk.. direction.. so that we will not fall back into that hole. How dumb it would be for us to just stand in that place and never move.. how silly for us to try to find our own way.. he must help us.. He must show us.. He must give us that path.

And I love this.. verse 3.. He put a new song in my mouth.. and many will see and will fear and will trust the Lord.

Have you ever seen someone rescued? People want to know whats going on, they watch, they wait, they hope. It doesnt matter if they know the person or not. People are curious. And any rescue is going to bring at least some cheer for the hero. how wonderful to know that the story of our rescue brings light to our Hero. Many will see and will fear and will trust the Lord.

It is my prayer for you that the story of your rescue would reflect apon your Hero.. and that every individual who crosses your path will be touched by who Christ is in you.

To every Somali who has been rescued by Christ: Keep following Him. Your rescue will be a testimony even to your persecuters.