Tuesday, June 15, 1999
Tuesday, June 15, 1999
If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their
cross and follow me.
(Matthew 16:24
NRSV)
Jesus wants us to follow him, but he doesn't want us to be dumb about it, like the caterpillars. The
caterpillars are not smart followers. Jesus' disciples were smart followers. They chose to follow
Jesus. They knew that they could leave at any time. They wanted to follow Jesus and to be like
him. They worked hard to support and glorify Jesus, and so Jesus blessed them and told them the
things that God had told him. Jesus wants us to be smart followers of God, so that we too can be
his faithful disciples.
Ronald Newhouse, Texas, USA
Probably all of us at one time or another have you ever played "Follow the Leader". It's a
wonderful and fun childhood game. There is a type of caterpillar called the processional
caterpillar that is an expert at following. These caterpillars follow one another everywhere.
Scientists have taken groups of processional caterpillars and put them in a circle so that they
follow one another around and around. Did you know that these caterpillars will keep going
around in a circle until they die? They don't stop, they just keep following the caterpillar in front
of them until they die. They are not smart enough to stop following the caterpillar in front of
them. Caterpillars are very not smart followers.
Prayer: God of peace, help me to be a smart and faithful follower of your son Jesus
Christ. Amen.
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