Some of you know that one of my favorite devotional writers is Glenn McDonald. He is a former Presbyterian minister who was serving at Ascension Health in Indianapolis as the Director of Mission Integration when I met him. His devotions that he wrote while serving in that vocation were put into six separate little books. I have all of them??.
He has written some fairly engaging devotions over the years, but the following excerpt is one of my favorites. As you continue to strive to follow Jesus, I hope these words are helpful and affirming.
In the Bible’s four biographies of Jesus (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John), Jesus says “follow me” on 87 occasions.
He never says, “Recite a creed about me.” Nor does he say, “Build a building that will honor me.” Jesus never tells his disciples, “Use my name as a rallying cry during election cycles.” But he continually says, “Follow me” – which is why those who seek to imitate him are called followers.
What does it mean to follow Jesus?
We begin each day imagining the conversations, meetings, times of work, times of play, and quiet moments that lie before us over the next 24 hours. If Jesus had all of these obligations and opportunities on his calendar, how would he approach them? What would he say or do? What would he not say or do?
We cannot answer such questions unless we’ve studied his actual life. Following Jesus is not sheer guesswork. His four biographies (called the Gospels) provide an astonishing portrait of his thoughts, motives, and actions. That’s where we begin.
Studying leads to knowing, and knowing opens the door to humble, hopeful following.
In Christ,
Pastor John
(next weekly note: May 14, 2025)
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