When I was riding my bike over to Kids of HIS Kingdom last week, I saw what looked like a grandpa mowing his lawn with a push mower. A little boy was following about 6-8 feet right behind him with a toy lawn mower. I’m guessing that was his grandson. This made me smile. It would have made a great picture. The little boy might have been thinking, “I want to be just like grandpa.”
In seeing the little boy following the man, I thought about how Jesus wants the same for us. He wants us to follow right behind Him. Certainly, that includes trusting in Who He is as the promised Savior--that what He has done for the world at the cross and the empty tomb He has also done for us as individuals to give us forgiveness of sins and eternal salvation.
In his letter to the Ephesian Christians, the apostle Paul also encouraged them to follow Jesus. He said, “Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God…Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord.” (Ephesians 5:1-2, 8b-10, ESV).
We can be so thankful that the Holy Spirit has brought us to repentance and faith in Christ. Through that faith alone in Jesus, we receive forgiveness of sins, eternal salvation, and receive a new identity as God’s own beloved children. The Holy Spirit calls us by the Gospel itself and as it is connected with the water in Holy Baptism. In doing so, the Spirit sets our feet on the path of following Jesus as our Savior. Romans 6:3-4, ESV: “Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.”
What does that walking in “newness of life” that is ours in Christ look like? We are to “walk in love as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us…” The word for love that Paul uses describes that self-giving, self-sacrificing love that Jesus showed with His innocent suffering and death on the cross. He put our needs first by dying as the perfect sacrificial substitute under the just punishment we deserve for our inherited sinfulness and for all of our sins.
We know from Holy Scripture what Jesus did in that love for us. So what does He desire that love look like in our lives? In humility, that love counts others more significant than oneself. It looks not only to its own interests but also to the interests of others. (Philippians 2:3-4) More specifically that love honors one’s parents. It does no physical harm to one’s neighbor but helps him or her in their times of need. It leads a sexually pure and decent life. It does not tell lies, gossip or slander others, but speaks in defense of them and puts the best construction on what they do and say. It does not scheme to take away from the neighbor her or his property or hurt his or her relationships.
In our relationship with God, that love shows itself in fear, love, and trust in the one true God alone. That love for God moves us to not misuse God’s holy name or treat it like any other word, but calls upon it in every trouble. As a result of that love, we praise and thank the Lord for Who He is and His gracious work to provide all that we need. Love for the Lord also shows itself in gladly hearing and learning His word.
As baptized believers in Jesus, we will never be perfect in following Him in love in this earthly life. We can think about what Christ would do in any given situation, but we are unable to perfectly mimic His loving words and actions. But that’s why Jesus’ came into this world. That’s why He died on the cross—to make possible the forgiveness we need. With the good news of Jesus’ unconditional love for you and me, the Holy Spirit reminds us of who we are and Whose we are—God’s own unconditionally loved and redeemed children. Through gospel and the Sacrament of the Altar, the Holy Spirit restores us and renews us and grants us the strength to grow in following Christ—more consistently walking in love for Him and for others.
God grant us the faithfulness and strength for that kind of following, so that when people see us, they say or think, “There’s someone who is following Jesus.” Amen.
God’s continued blessings to you!
In Christ, our Savior,
Pastor Rathjen
P.S. There are some wonderful hymns in the Lutheran Service Book with this theme of following Jesus:
- “I Want to Walk as a Child of the Light” LSB 411
- “‘Come, follow me,’ the Savior Spake” LSB 688
- “Let Us Ever Walk With Jesus” LSB 685
Download Full Copy: Labors of Love: June 2016 - July 2016
