When a sunflower is young, it does something rather interesting. The flower’s “face” will follow the sun as it moves across the sky. You can look at the flower in the morning and it will be facing towards the sun when it rises, and by the end of the day the flower will have flipped all the way over to the other side, as the sun sets.
I have grown many tomato plants over the years, and they, too, exhibit a similar feature. Some years I would plant my tomato seeds in the spring, but start to grow them in the house instead of the greenhouse, placing the seedlings next to a window. But because it is not as bright in the house, the young tomato plants will lean towards the window, almost falling over each other while trying to reach the sunlight on the other side.
We need to be like this as well. We need to lean towards the Son, seeking His light. We need to follow Him, and let Him lead our lives. We need to be like the apostles James, John, Peter, and Andrew, who, when Jesus said, “Follow me,” left everything behind, and followed Him.
Matthew 4:18-22 “And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.
And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.
And they straightway left their nets, and followed him.
And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them.
And they immediately left the ship and their father, and followed him.”
To follow something means to go after; to pursue; to move behind in the same path or direction. This is exactly what Jesus’ disciples did. They left everything behind; their homes, their jobs, and their earthly families. They gave their entire being to the Lord, and this is what we need to do towards Christ as well.
Jesus has laid down the trail, and we need to follow. He has shown us the way, lighting up the narrow road we need to take, and has given us all the instructions that we need to reach Him at the end of it.
John 12:26 “If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.”
To follow Jesus means that we need to deny ourselves what we want and want to do, but this is something that many people have a difficult time understanding or obeying. The life of a Christian is not multiple choice, where you get to do what you want, and live whatever way you please. We do what He wants, and live the way that He wants us to live. We conform ourselves to Christ.
Luke 9:23 “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.”
Like those sunflowers follow the sun across the sky, searching for its light, let us follow the true Light which is Jesus, so we may receive His life.
John 8:12 “Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.”
In Christ,
Andrew
Teufer Lake King James Bible Church 