Hi, I’m Joni Eareckson Tada with a question about following Christ.
If you’re a disciple of Jesus—a Christian, yes—you follow Him, but do you go after Jesus in the way Psalm 63, verse 8 tells you to where it says, "My soul followeth hard after thee: thy right hand upholdeth me"? Another translation says, "My soul follows close behind you." So that’s my question: You follow Christ, but do you follow hard after Him? The soul that follows hard on the heels of God is anxious to get close to God; to be as near as possible, like a kid reaching out his arms for his mommy, or tugging on his daddy’s coattails saying, “Daddy, I want up; I want up.” Every child who loves his daddy wants to be close. I know that from experience. My parents were hikers who often took us on backpacking trips. As the youngest, I thought that if I didn't keep up, if I didn't stick on the heels of my mom and dad, I was afraid I'd get lost in the woods (or so I thought). Out there in a big state park where there were maybe bears or snakes, ‘Stick close to daddy, Joni; just stick close,’ I’m thinking.
That’s the perfect picture of a soul that follows hard after God; that keeps close behind Him. That soul doesn’t want any distance between he and God. And, friend, you and I, as disciples of Jesus, well we need to be the sort of followers who are constantly bumping into God's back. We need a healthy dose of fear that, without Him, we'd be lost (and we would!). So don't fall behind. Don't think you can find your way. Don’t get sidetracked. Don't run ahead, thinking you know the path. And please do not detour around Him. Just stay close behind the Lord where the trail is fresh. Psalm 16, verse 11 says, "You have made known to me the path of life” and friend that path is always safe. God never leads you anywhere or into anything that will harm your soul—your body, maybe, your finances, your health, perhaps—but never anything to damage your soul.
And how does our Father in heaven feel about us tagging along so closely? He feels delighted! Nothing could please Him more than when His children desire to stay close. Psalm 139, verse 3 in The Living Bible says, "You chart the path ahead of me and tell me where to stop and rest. Every moment you know where I am."
So, what do you think it means to "step on God's heels"? Read Proverbs 3, verses 5-6. There you’ll find that familiar phrase "In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths." To "acknowledge" Him in all our ways means to be instant in obedience; absolute in your trust; immediate in your prayers; quick to seek His counsel; ready to wait and rest if He says so; prompt in asking for help in not just big matters, but small things, everyday, ordinary things; and to acknowledge Him is to always be quick in your response to the Spirit's prodding. That’s how you follow hard after God.
Of course you can’t follow hard without listening to God's voice and to do that, we need to be reading His Word. So today, I want to send you a special edition of Psalms, Proverbs, and the New Testament that we call “God's Word on Disability.” It’s got lots of devotional insights that’ll help you find the path and keep you from getting lost. It’s great to give to a friend who’s been ill or recently injured. So contact us today for your copy at joniandfriends.org. Finally, remember this encouragement from Psalm 37, "The steps of a man are established by the Lord. When he falls, he shall not be hurled headlong; because the Lord is the One who holds his hand." Hey, that’s great news for anyone who wants to follow hard after the Lord.
© Joni and Friends, 2013
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PO Box 3333 Agoura Hills, CA 91376