Follow Me & See

Jesus is calling you. Come and see. Come follow Me.

“Azariah son of Amaziah…became king…He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, just as his father Amaziah had done. The Lord afflicted the king with leprosy until the day he died, and he lived in a separate house…Zechariah son of Jeroboam became king of Israel…he reigned six months. He did evil…Shallum son of Jabesh conspired against Zechariah. He attacked him in front of the people, assassinated him and succeeded him as king. So the word of the Lord spoken to Jehu was fulfilled…Menahem…attacked Shallum…assassinated him and succeeded him as king.” 2 Kings 15:1-30

What do we see in the world around us? Seemingly endless conflict over who is in power and who has control over resources. How is that shaping how we view life and the people around us? This chapter mirrors the political histories of many countries, with one person after another fighting for power and control.

Azariah had a unique story told about him. He was king but lived apart from the chaos of the political community because he had leprosy. Can you imagine how that shaped his worldview? How that changed how he saw others?

How do all the change and chaos of the world around us impact our faith? How do conflict and corruption impact our hearts? Is there a better way to live?

“To you, Lord, I call; you are my Rock. Do not drag me away with the wicked, with those who do evil, who speak cordially with their neighbors but harbor malice in their hearts. Because they have no regard for the deeds of the Lord and what his hands have done, he will tear them down and never build them up again. The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him. The Lord is the strength of his people, a fortress of salvation for his anointed one. Save your people and bless your inheritance; be their shepherd and carry them forever.” Psalms 28:1-9

Something amazing happens when we start listening to the voice of truth. We find our footing. We experience something very different from the sinking sand of a sinful world. We find a foundation of rock on which we can build our lives. How is your foundation? Are you standing on the Rock like David did?

David saw how lives fell apart as people lived for earthly power and pleasure. He did not allow the evil of others to infect his heart. He knew the people who did wrong and hated others in their hearts would reap what they sowed. A life built on hatred cannot stand. Allowing offense into your heart or opening the door to the enemy can create cracks in your foundation—cracks of worry, anger, anxiety, and fear.

God has a better plan and wants to plant you with deep roots that will never be uprooted by the constant storms of the culture of corruption around you. He invites you to build your life on Him. He wants you to see that you were made to have Him as your strength and Shepherd.

“A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold. Rich and poor have this in common: The Lord is the Maker of them all. Humility is the fear of the Lord; its wages are riches and honor and life. In the paths of the wicked are snares and pitfalls, but those who would preserve their life stay far from them. Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it. Whoever sows injustice reaps calamity, and the rod they wield in fury will be broken. The generous will themselves be blessed, for they share their food with the poor. Drive out the mocker, and out goes strife; quarrels and insults are ended. The sluggard says, “There’s a lion outside! I’ll be killed in the public square!” Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline will drive it far away. Do you see someone skilled in their work? They will serve before kings; they will not serve before officials of low rank.”

Proverbs 22:1-29

Wisdom calls out to us from a higher place so that we would clearly see the differences between the paths we can travel. One path, the false path that leads to death, is marked by arrogance, stubbornness, selfishness, a scarcity mindset, injustice, constant quarrels, a lazy approach led by fear, and foolish thinking that refuses to listen to the God who made us.

The other path is the path of truth. This path says God has had a plan from beginning to end. He made you, He knows you, and He wants to guide you. He honors those who live humbly, honor Him, and understand that He is God. Truth tells us to see beyond ourselves, teach our children what is pleasing to God, share what we have, stay away from the influence of people who do wrong, and always keep growing our strengths, for the skilled worker will rise through the ranks to serve the King.

God does not promise a life without pain. King Azariah lived with leprosy, yet his affliction did not keep him from living faithfully. How are your circumstances and the culture around you impacting you? Have you allowed the negativity or ways of the world to undercut your hope?

“Listen to the terms of this covenant. …the terms I commanded your ancestors when I brought them out of Egypt…I said, ‘Obey me and do everything I command you, and you will be my people, and I will be your God…I swore to your ancestors, to give them a land flowing with milk and honey…Listen to the terms of this covenant and follow them. From the time I brought your ancestors up from Egypt until today, I warned them again and again, saying, “Obey me.” But they did not listen or pay attention; instead, they followed the stubbornness of their evil hearts.” Jeremiah 11:2-8

God spoke through the prophet Jeremiah and said, listen and follow. Obey Me and understand that you were made to be in relationship with Me. I have given you rules to guide you, not to control you. I know what is best for you, so, like a loving parent, I gave you discipline to protect you from the pain of foolish decisions. God said, I want to guide you to a good place of prosperity where you produce fruit.

God said, time and again, I have warned you and wanted you to hear My voice, but you would not listen. You followed your own way because of a stubborn and evil heart within you. Consider for a moment whether you like to drive. Do you like to be in control?

It can be unnatural in our culture to follow. How do you respond when someone tells you what to do? Do you fight back and want things your way according to your preferences? Let us not pretend that following is easy. It is not. It involves sacrifice and surrender. It requires humility and ears that are willing to hear and obey.

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God. The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God!” When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus. Turning around, Jesus saw them…Come,” he replied, “and you will see.” So they went…Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas” Finding Philip, he said to him, “Follow me”…How do you know me?” Nathanael asked. Jesus answered, “I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you.” Nathanael declared, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the king of Israel.” Jesus said, “You believe because I told you I saw you under the fig tree. You will see greater things…you will see ‘heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on’ the Son of Man.” John 1:1-51

Isn’t it amazing to realize that Jesus is the Word before the world ever existed, yet became one of us so that we could walk intimately with Him? What kind of God leaves heaven and takes the form of a man, knowing how we would treat Him? What kind of King becomes a servant to save? Our God. The God of grace and truth.

Jesus is the One who brings everything together. He is the Shepherd David called upon to guide us. His wisdom knew we needed a model to understand the humility that Solomon described. His Word never changes, and His voice speaks the same invitation found throughout Jeremiah: Follow Me. Jesus still calls us by name, just as He called Nathanael. We are not just space dust drifting through time. We are loved children, made by the hand of the living God, called by name, and born of His Spirit.

Following Jesus begins with humility. It requires a willingness to declare that He is Lord and we are not. His Word confronts our pride, challenges us to surrender control, and calls us to obey even when life is difficult or we do not understand. Circumstances do not determine whether we follow Him. Azariah’s leprosy did not stop him from following God. David’s enemies did not keep him from seeking his Shepherd. The greatest challenge we face is not suffering or the sin of the world, but our own stubborn refusal to faithfully follow.

Jesus says, Come and see. Follow Me. He says, trust that I am the Word and the Way. I am the Good Shepherd. Listen to His voice and obey His leading. The One who called the first disciples is calling us to be and multiply disciples today. All who follow Him will find abundant life, live by the Spirit, and learn what it means to live as a child of God.