Me and Who ElseSample

INTENTIONAL FOLLOWING

The times in my life that I felt most alive, were when I intentionally entered a storm. Like Jesus knew loving the marginalised and criminals wold get people talking in a negative way against Him, but He still did it, because of love.  

In Biblical times, following a rabbi literally meant to walk in his footsteps and do what he did, learn from his every move. When we follow Jesus, that is exactly what we should do. We often become so consumed with a passion for Jesus, that we skip over the part that teaches us the passion of Jesus.

 Jesus so often and clearly asks us to intentionally love. Love your enemy, love your neighbour. Doing what Jesus says is one way, but actually doing what Jesus does, now that’s where it gets interesting. Following in our Rabbi’s footsteps asks of us to eat with sinners, live a life of sacrifice, and be a voice for those who need it. 

When Paul was in prison he was suffering, but he had joy, a peace that was so alive that it made him sing. He was in the storm, awakened and alive. In John 14:27 we read “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid”. 

With that peace in us, we are the best chance the world has to become more peaceful.  

We should be the people who search for the storms and take with us the peace we receive so freely from God. It is easy for us to turn our eyes away from those who are facing storms and to just stand at the edge of the storm thanking God that we are not in it. But sometimes, I think God wants us to go to the storm, to be the hands and feet of the Prince of Peace in those storms. 

Maybe, we should sing up a storm of peace in the most peace-less of places. When you know how much you are loved, may that love will compel you to want to live like Jesus, so that others can also experience that love.  

Sané Leach  

Social Worker, Music Therapist.