What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me – practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.  – Philippians 4:9

Most adults can follow simple directions like traffic rules and recipes but, if you have ever tried to put together a desk from a big box store, then you know following directions is not always as easy as it appears. Several times in the Bible, Jesus specifically tells His disciples to follow Him. However, like the desk construction, they found following Christ harder than it initially appeared, and perhaps you do, too! 

Jesus did not ask his disciples to blindly follow, he added a critical component: “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me” (Luke 9:23). Life for a disciple of Christ requires an intentional discipline of sacrifice and self-control. That level of following is impossible to achieve without the Holy Spirit’s help. The risen Christ’s power is sufficient to lead you in a Christ-like life. Yet God, in His mercy, also provides people, just like you, to be living examples of what “following Christ” looks like. 

The apostle Paul pointed to himself as such an example, “Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1). And he went further, encouraging those watching his life to practice the things that made him a dedicated follower. Can you identify someone whose spiritual journey you would like to emulate? Whether a character from history or a person down the street, note what makes their life honoring to God and PRACTICE those habits yourself! Pray for men and women serving America to discover Godly examples to inspire and follow in fulfilling their roles today.