"Follow the Leader"

 

“Follow the Leader”

 

(This is a revision of my first “Pastoral Ponderings” written for the bulletin in our first church in Gorham, NY in January 1973. The response I received from our congregation and family members encouraged me to continue the practice through the remaining 36 years of pastoral work and ultimately led to creating this blog. I’ve learned much and still greatly enjoy putting these thoughts together with the prayer that God will use them to minister to others.)

 As children we remember playing “Follow the Leader”. The object was to exactly copy whoever was at the head of the procession—anyone who failed to do so was disqualified. So to remain in the game one had to, without question or variation, follow the leader’s actions and words.

Some time prior to composing the original article I’d been reading in Numbers. Just before leaving Sinai to continue the journey to the Promised Land we see in 9:18: “At the Lord’s command the Israelites set out, and at his command they encamped. As long as the cloud stayed over the tabernacle, they remained in camp.” Here we see Israel following their Leader but it was far from a game—it was a way of life. And Old Testament history verifies that as long as God’s people followed Him they prospered, but when they went their own way they suffered defeat, poverty and other indignities. God expects obedience, and we (just as His people of old) face the prospect of His discipline if we fail to do so (“…God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient.”—Ephesians 5:6).

Whether we realize it or not we are all following one of two (L)leaders: God or our own desires. If we follow our own instincts we’re letting the things around us—money, fame and prestige to name a few—lead us. These can never bring success or purpose in life (“There is a way that seems right…but in the end it leads to death.”—Proverbs 14:12). If, however, we choose to follow our Divine Leader (as did Abraham, Joshua, David and many others) we know we’ll be kept on the right path (“As for God, his way is perfect….”—Psalm 18:30).

God says, “This is the way; walk in it.” (Isaiah 30:21). Are we ready to follow our Leader?

 

Grace and Blessings”

Jim McMillan