Who will you follow?

Phillip Foster July 4, 2018

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“Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life.”—Psalm 143:8

In my community, a major employer is releasing hundreds of employees, some with more than 20 years of service, without offering them an opportunity to remain with the company. I have spoken to several who are turning to God and saying, “Show me the way to go.”

Can you imagine how David must have felt, knowing that he was God’s anointed to be king over Israel; and yet, here he was being pursued by King Saul who wanted to put him to death.  

Henri Nouwen writes in his book on spiritual leadership that leaders need to change from wanting to lead to wanting to be led. This was David’s heart, but it sometimes led to his hiding in caves or running for his life. Is this how God leads the ones He loves?

David not only trusted and relied upon God’s leading but also believed it was what was best for him. And so, David prays, “Lead me, O LORD, in your righteousness because of my enemies; make your way straight before me” (Psalm 5:8). David’s rationale, “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake” (Psalm 23:1-2-3).  

God wants to lead and He wants us to follow. That makes sense given we know God’s ways are higher than ours and His thoughts greater than ours as well. Isaiah relates the LORD’s words to the people of Israel, “I am the LORD your God, who leads you in the way you should go” (Isaiah 48:17). David writes in Psalm 37 that we need to entrust our way unto God with the promise that He will give us the desires of our hearts.

Numerous times in the New Testament (Matthew 4:19; 10:48), we see where Jesus issued an invitation, “Follow me.” He spoke of himself as the shepherd and how His sheep would follow Him because they knew His voice. He also spoke of the Holy Spirit whose role would be to “guide into all truth” (John 16:13).

I think most of us would say we want to follow, but pride, fear, doubt and uncertainty get in the way. As Isaiah wrote, “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way” (Isaiah 53:6).

His call is still, “Follow me.”  

Jimmy Collins, former Chick-fil-A President, wrote a book entitled, Creative Followership,in which he describes the importance of choosing your leader. While most of us don’t feel we have that luxury in our work setting, when it comes to who we will follow in life it is a necessity.

Joshua, at the end of his tenure as leader of the nation of Israel, said these words, “But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve…But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord (Joshua 24:15).” He could just as easily have said, “Choose this day who you will follow…but I choose to follow the Lord!”

Perhaps you are looking for the path God wants you to walk. Pause and ask Him to show you the steps you need to take at this time. Ask Him to make this clear and to give you what you need in order to be obedient to His will and purpose for you.

Photo source: istock 

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Phillip A. Foster, Ph.D., as a psychologist and Director of AuthenticQuest.org, provides spiritual direction, counseling, training and consulting, to those in ministry or other roles of leadership in the church. He is the author of Here's My Heart, Lord; Parent With an Attitude, and Not Good Enough. Learn More »

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