Follow Me: That's what he said.

I was perusing a familiar scripture when a new word jumped off the page. It was there all along, but in the past I brushed past it with no regard. In John 8:12, Jesus says to the crowd,

I am the light of the world. Anyone who follows Me will never walk in the darkness but will have the light of life.

The word that got me this time is “follows." The word implies constant movement on our part, not a one-and-done kind of deal. You can acknowledge Jesus as your savior and then carry on like any other day, foregoing the “follow” part of the scripture, but that does not lead to a life of light.

Christianity isn’t a spectator sport that you watch safely from the sidelines—you need to be all in. You need to follow Christ today, tomorrow, and the next day and so on and so forth; while doing so, you will have the light of life. The two go hand in hand. It’s partnering with Jesus for a lifetime by pursuing Him through His word. Seeking His will through quiet time, Bible study, and serving selflessly.

On days where I wonder where God is, or why He is being so quiet, I have to remember to follow.