Team Charger Challenge

Follower > Fan

Followers get in the game. Fans sit on the sideline and cheer. Which one are you?

Matthew 16: 24-25 says, "Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it."

A follower isn't a job for just anyone. It's difficult. In order to be a follower you must be willing to deny yourself, take up a cross, and lose your life. Doesn't sound like a whole lot of fun does it? However, Jesus says when we do this we will actually find our life. Not only will we be able to be with Him forever some day, we will also find satisfaction in who He is.

As I think of the Christmas season many followers come to my mind. When I think of sold out followers I think of people like Matt Chandler who in the midst of cancer said, "To live is Christ and to die is gain". Or Tim Tebow who makes God's name known whether he wins or loses, is bashed or praised, plays or doesn't play. Or the ministry leaders at some of the places we attended, whose name you may never know. These people are in the game.

When I look at the Christmas story in Scripture, there are also many followers. One that I never recognized as a follower before is Mary. Let's think about how crazy this time would be for Mary. She was young and a virgin. All of a sudden an angel appears to her and tells her she is going to get pregnant. From who? The Holy Spirit. Imagine this happening to you today. This is crazy!

I would have been running the other way, but check out what Mary says in Luke 1:38, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.”

I can't decide which statement is crazier? What the angel said or what Mary said. The implications of this meant that Mary would be divorced, shamed, and given up her dreams of ever marrying again or having children. And yet she says, I trust you God, let's do this.

She denied herself, took up her cross, and followed Christ in the midst of craziness! It ended up being the best decision she could have ever made. God Himself was born of Mary.

Mary was a follower, not a fan.

How can you be a follower this week?

Merry Christmas!

Team Charger Challenge