Crowds were flocking to see Jesus. He was performing miracles. Jesus overruled the evil of the world. He was more powerful than the ruler of the Roman empire Caesar and people wanted to see for themselves what was going on. Some of them thought they wanted to join Jesus’ team and said to Jesus, “I will follow You.” But when Jesus explained the cost to them they backed away.

Jesus tried to make things simple. He did things like say the greatest commandments are “love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength. And love your neighbor as yourself.” So when people said I want to be on your team Jesus (that’s my paraphrase), Jesus said just two words: “Follow Me.”

Follow Me. Just two words but look at how lives change when people do just that. Look what Jesus did with the disciples – people who had been fishermen and tax collectors. They were God’s instruments.

Flannery O’Connor wrote in her prayer journal: “Don’t ever let me think, dear God, that I was anything but an instrument for Your story.” May we always be God’s instruments.

We’ve been singing a hymn lately that says: Will you come and follow Me if I but call your name? Will you go where you don’t know and never be the same? Will you leave yourself behind, risk the hostile stare, let Me answer prayer in you? (The Summons by John L. Bell and Graham Maule, 1987).

Have you said yes to these questions? Will you continue to do so?  Let it be so. Amen.