There are many great identities for God’s people. We are believers, Christians, the redeemed, His sheep, His children, God’s chosen ones, the beloved. There are other names, too, and one that should continue to get identity attention is that we are disciples.
Disciples are students/learners, but also more than that. Disciples follow. They don’t merely take up techniques, they adopt the master’s whole approach. So Jesus repeatedly called: “Follow me.”
It’s quite straightforward. And there are three straightforward observations we see from an answer Jesus gave when some wanted to see Him.
And Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him. (John 12:23–26 ESV)
So:
- To be honored by the Father, we must follow Jesus where He is.
- To follow Jesus where He is, we must fall into the earth (like a seed) and die.
- To die like this is the way to “much fruit” and is the glory of Jesus.
It’s a trifecta: Follow – Fall – Fruit.
Following Jesus is not willy-nilly wandering in a loose trajectory, it is following in His steps (1 Peter 2:21). In what ways are you following your own path? What is keeping you on the surface of the soil, keeping you from fruit? Are you staying back, or are you following Christ?