How to Follow
Today’s Verse:
Nevertheless my brethren that went up with me made the heart of the people melt: but I wholly followed the LORD my God. ~Joshua 14:8
Can you follow your leader? Can you follow well? Following implies walking in the same path, direction, and footsteps. It means you have fully embraced the ideas, philosophy, and vision of the one leading you. The testimony of Caleb was that he wholly followed the Lord.
We see that he was undivided.
A true follower must follow with utmost loyalty. Peer pressure did not affect Caleb. External circumstances did not affect him. The failures of others did not affect him. He made up his mind that he would follow the Lord with all his heart, soul, and mind. He was big-picture minded. There are always going to be things and people that will try to pull your heart in a different direction. Determine today that you will be undivided in following.
We see that he was undoubtful.
“And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it” (Numbers 13:30). From the moment he set his eyes on the land of Kadeshbarnea, he had faith that Israel could claim it. He did not see giants: he saw God! He had faith that God would give them the strength to overcome. He had faith for the war. He had faith for the work. He did not allow the pushback of the ten spies who lacked faith to discourage him. Those who wholly follow the Lord are men of faith.
We see that he was undeterred.
He waited forty-five years to take the mountain area of Hebron. He was like Paul who said, “None of these things move me.” The wilderness did not move him. Continuous rebellion did not move him. Getting older did not move him. He said, “As yet I am as strong this day as I was in the day that Moses sent me: as my strength was then, even so is my strength now, for war, both to go out, and to come in.” Conquering the foes and fighting more battles did not move him. A great follower is undeterred in his goal and his God.
We see that he was undeniable.
Caleb wholly followed the Lord. He was dedicated in his following. Dedication is giving ourselves wholly (spirit, mind, and body) to the Lord. He was dependable in his following. Caleb was faithful to the Lord, Moses, and Joshua. He fought when he was supposed to fight; he obeyed orders when he was told to do so; he was there when he was needed. He was dynamic in his following. Caleb was a man of performance and power. He got things done. He was a model to all the men of being a whole-hearted follower.
Are you someone who is halted between two opinions? Are you someone who is double minded about following? A man who wholly follows the Lord is not wishy washy. He is set, steadfast, strong, and spiritual. You will never claim a mountain for the Lord until you wholly follow Him.
Have a dedicated God Morning!
Bible Reading Schedule: Deuteronomy 17-20