Skip to main content

Follow The Leader

In 1988, Robert Fulghum wrote a book called "All I Really Need To Know I Learned In Kindergarten." He also wrote a poem by the same name. The title is comical at first until you realise that some of the basic principles for a successful life (e.g. clean up your own mess, don't take things that aren't yours, share everything, etc.) are kindergarten lessons.

One of my favorite kindergarten rituals was when we had to line up to go to lunch or recess or anywhere, really. Remember how we used to have to line up in a straight line? The teacher's only instruction was to follow the line leader. And the line leader followed the teacher. If you did that, you wouldn't stray or get lost and you would end up where you were supposed to go.

As Christians, all we really need to know for a successful Christian walk is this same principle learned in kindergarten: follow the Leader. Obviously our Leader is Christ. If we follow Him, we won't go astray, we cannot get lost and we will make it to where we are supposed to go (ultimately, Heaven).

So why don't we simply do that at all times?

Temptations, for one. Regardless of what your area of weakness is, you will be tempted. Temptations are common to all human beings. We are encouraged not to yield to temptation, but it's not always so easy. And that is why it is all the more important to follow the Leader.

The author of Hebrews took great pains to in chapter 2 to explain who our Leader is. Christ is described as being made fully human, calling us "brethren" (see vv. 10-11). Ah, but the critical point is in v. 18 (KJV): "For in that He Himself hath suffered being tempted, He is able to succour them that are tempted." In other words, because Christ was tempted as a human being, He is able to strengthen those who are tempted.

Have you ever found yourself going through a difficult time, needing someone to talk to? And not just anyone, but someone who has been through a similar if not the same circumstance. That happens because we feel that only someone who has gone through a similar situation can understand the enormity and severity of it.

How amazing it is then that we have a Leader like Jesus, who set aside splendor and immortality to take on human form, subjected Himself to human temptations and struggles and overcame them! He lets us know that resisting temptation is possible because He did it. Not as God, but as mortal man. He truly is the example we ought to follow.

Overcoming temptations boils down to a simple kindergarten lesson: follow the Leader and you won't go astray.
Labels:

Comments

  1. AnonymousSeptember 3, 2012 at 9:56 PM

    Great Job Josie! I trully anjoyed this read, and will look forward to more.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Josie JamesSeptember 3, 2012 at 10:02 PM

      Thanks Marsha Lee. To God be the glory! I am trying to do better and post more regularly.

      Delete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Ride or Die

I love this phrase. There are quite a few subtle variations on the meaning, but it is an urban colloquialism that means loyalty, no matter what. I thank God that I have been blessed with a few people that have that kind of loyalty to me and I to them. It's a rich blessing that have true friends. They are with me and in my corner no matter what (or "regardless of what" as one of them would say). This week we had Vacation Bible School at my church and I was privileged to be a teacher. The first lesson was taken from Daniel chapter three. The very well known story of the three Hebrew boys: Shadrach, Meschach and Abednego. It is a wonderful story of faith, but something jumped out at me so profoundly that it almost knocked me over. We always focus on the deliverance. But the Hebrew boys did not. Their focus was on God and Him alone. They were ride or die for the Lord. Literally. If you read the story, they never once pray for deliverance. They talk about God's a
2 comments
Read more

Rocks, Gravel, Sand and Water

Let me first start by saying that I cannot take credit for the following example, as I did not originate it. In fact, I was listening to Turning Point with Dr. David Jeremiah and I was so touched by what he shared that I thought I would share it with all of you. Let's say I have a large, empty 5-gallon jar. If I place fist sized rocks into the jar until no more can fit, is it full? Before you answer, let me say that after I place the rocks in the jar, I pick up a bag of gravel and begin to pour that into the jar. Where does the gravel go? In between the spaces left by the rocks. After I fill the jar to the brim with gravel, is it full? Before you answer, consider this: I pour a bag of sand into the jar. Where does the sand go? Into the spaces left by the gravel, of course. After filling the jar to the brim with sand, is it full? Before you answer, consider this: I pour a pitcher of water into the same jar. Where does the water go? Into the spaces between the grains of sa
2 comments
Read more

Missed Opportunities

*So....I'm going to be asking for a little audience participation on this one. Please, please oblige me (just this once...lol). Have you ever been in a situation with no clue of what to do? In the moment your mind is reeling and you're desperately trying to figure out how to act or what to say. Of course, later on when you're far removed from the stress of the situation, a million things pop into your head as to what you should have said or what you should have done?  Well, that happened to me yesterday, except I am still unclear as to what I should have said or done. I just kept thinking, " Come on, Josie! Think! What would Jesus do? " But to my chagrin, I came up woefully and hopelessly blank. Here's the scenario:  I am currently doing contract, project-driven work. It's not steady, but for the time being it is my Brook Cherith (see 1 Kings 17:2-6), so I'm not complaining (out loud). I started a new project last week and found out t
6 comments
Read more