Limping Followers

"And...he (Jacob) halted (limped) upon his thigh."

“And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.~ Lk. 9:23

The first qualifying requirement for following Jesus is the denial of self; not your person, but all one’s rights. They’re to go only to your Sovereign King! Shortcomings, idiosyncrasies, failures, and yes, even down to a sinful nature, does not disqualify one from following the Lamb.

All who followed Him, like Jacob of old, had a limp in their character of one sort or another. And He knew this when He called them to follow Him. He did not choose them for what they were, but what they would become by following Him!

In Mark’s gospel (10:32) we are told, “Jesus went before them…and as they followed, they were afraid.”  Notice, in spite of this defect in their Christian character, they still followed Him. 

And so should we, dear ones. Yes, we are unworthy to follow Him, but HE IS WORTHY to be followed! I like the way John puts it in the book of Revelation (12:5), “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.”

by an Old Disciple

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