How many times have you heard someone speak about how the Church needs men to take active leadership roles? How we need qualified elders and deacons, how we need strong fathers, and how we need preachers who are not afraid to speak the whole truth? Most Christians who have borne the name for very long will have heard these sentiments in one form or another. But have you considered that the Church needs more men to follow?
In the verse quoted above, Jesus says that if any will come after Him, he must first "take up his cross daily, and follow me." While it is true that the Church does and always will need strong leaders, no one can lead the Church of God without first learning to follow Him.
There are those who seek to follow him, but are unwilling to take up His cross. One example of this is found in Mark 10:17-23. Here we have the story of a young man of great wealth who sought to follow Jesus. He asked the question of the Lord, "Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?" In verse 21, it says that "Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me." It also says in verse 22, that the young man "went away grieved: for he had many possessions."
So it is with many today, they seek to follow after Christ, but are not willing to sacrifice self for his sake. In Luke 14:26-27, Jesus said, "If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple." This means, simply, that we must be willing to forsake anything and everything in order to follow Christ as he would have us, even if it means giving up our very lives.
Jesus said of the Jews in his day, "This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men." (Matthew 15:8-9) If we teach doctrines of men, our own doctrines, instead of Christ's doctrines, we no longer follow Him. Our own pre-conceived ideas of what Christianity is must also be forsaken in light of what the Bible reveals as God's will. Only if we are willing to do this, can we be true followers of His.
Yes, the Church needs men to lead. But first we need men who follow.
Until next time, let me encourage you to search the scriptures daily, whether these things are so. Acts 17:11
May God bless you in your study of his Word.
Copyright 2006 Mance J. Davis Jr.
