Follow Me

June 6, 2021

St. Peter Lutheran Church, Doss, TX 
At the end of today’s Gospel, we read (Mark 3: 32) There was a crowd sitting
around Jesus, and someone said, “Your mother and your brothers are outside asking
for you.” 33 Jesus replied, “Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?” 34Then he
looked at those around him and said, “Look, these are my mother and
brothers. 35 Anyone who does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.”
God’s will just might be summed in those two words of Jesus: “Follow me.” (Matthew
10:38, 16.24, 19.21)
This December, I will be celebrating my 50th year in ordained ministry. Half of
those years were spent as a chaplain in health care settings. The last six years of that
were with Peterson Hospice in Kerrville. I had an average of 16 patients at hospice
that I was to provide pastoral care for. Every patient is a unique person. As I begin a
relationship, I ask two questions. Are they at peace with God? Secondly, is there
anyone you need to forgive?
To follow Jesus is to be at peace with God. It is pure gift. Paul said, we are saved
by grace through faith as a gift of God (Eph.2:8); to follow Jesus is to forgive others
as He has forgiven you. I could ask each of you those two questions but I would
rather you ask them of yourselves. Ask yourself if you are at peace with God. Ask
yourself if there is anyone you need to forgive.
When I asked those questions of the great variety of people who go through that
hospice program, who are terminally ill, there are a variety of answers. Many say
they are at peace and feel no need to forgive anyone. Some say they don’t believe in
God or an afterlife. I might challenge them while working to respect them. Paul
calls it “speaking the truth in love.” I might say, Since, we are all going to die
someday, we will discover either that there is a God you never believed in or
trusted, or, you won’t know anything.” I might then continue to say, “But I believe
that you are more than an intelligent animal, that you have a spirit that will go on.
You can wait and see or not or you can try to get to know the Lord who sent His
Son to die for you and who offers us forgiveness of sins.” The person might say that
they don’t believe in sins and I might counter by saying, “Then use the word,
‘flaws.’” They might tell me that their highest concern was for themselves and their
enjoyment of life. That was their mission. They might ask: “Where does it say that
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I’m supposed to be on someone else’s mission? I did enough of that in the
military.” I might ask if that person was baptized and if so, died through the baptism
and rose with Christ as He rose from the tomb. So, when Jesus says, “Follow me,”
you need to tune in to his mission for you. If you do, you will never be happier.
Some seek only their own pleasure in experiences or material goods. But, it’s a
dead end.
Some seek God and may spend a whole lifetime in church as an active member
and still be seeking God. To take the next step is to give up control you think you
might have. That step is becoming a disciple. A disciple spends time getting to
know Jesus as a person. The more time you spend in scripture with an open mind
and heart, it will teach you about Jesus and draw love right out of your heart. Think
of that song, “Softly and Tenderly Jesus is calling, calling O sinner, come home.”
To spend time in prayer as well as situational awareness allows you to know Him.
Soldiers, law enforcement and survivalist speak of situational awareness as being
aware at all times of what is going on around you, sensitive to danger. Situational
awareness, as I am using it, has to do with being aware of what is going on around
you so that you can be a presence of Christ to that person or situation. Jesus defined
himself as being One among you who is a servant. That comes across strongly as
He washes His disciples’ feet. There is a vast difference between asking the
question: what can you do for me? Or what can I do for you? Luther would say that
we are called, gathered and enlightened in the one true faith. That call brings us
back to where Jesus says, “Follow me.”
One man put it this way: I used to think of God as my observer, my judge,
keeping track of the things I did wrong, so as to know whether I merited heaven or
hell when I die. He was out there, sort of like a president. I recognized His picture
when I saw it, but I didn’t really know Him.
But later on, when I met Jesus, it seemed as though life was rather like a bike, but
it was a tandem bike, and I noticed that Jesus was in the back helping me pedal. I
didn’t know just when it was He suggested we change, but life has not been the
same since I took the back-seat to Jesus, my Lord. He makes life exciting. When I
had control, I thought I knew the way. It was rather boring, but predictable. It was
the shortest distance between two points.
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But when He took the lead, He knew delightful long cuts, up mountains, and
through rocky places and at break-through speeds; it was all I could do to hang on!
Even though it often looked like madness, He said, “Pedal!” I was worried and
anxious and asked, “Where are you taking me?” He laughed and didn’t answer and
I started to learn to trust. I forgot my boring life and entered into adventure. And
when I’d say, “I’m scared”, He’d lean back and touch my hand.
He took me to people with gifts that I needed, gifts of healing, acceptance and
joy. They gave me their gifts to take on my journey, our journey, my Lord’s and
mine. And we were off again. He said, “Give the gifts away; they’re extra baggage,
too much weight.” So, I did, to the people we met, and I found in giving I received,
and still our burden was light.
I did not trust Him, at first, in control of my life. I thought He’d wreck it, but He
knows bike secrets, knows how to make it bend to take sharp corners, jump to clear
high rocks, fly to shorten scary passages. And I am learning to shut up and pedal in
the strangest places, and I’m beginning to enjoy the view and the cool breeze on my
face with my delightful constant companion, Jesus.
And when I’m sure I just can’t do any more, He just smiles and says… “Pedal.”
As I am peddling, one of the important things that helps me feel close to God is
Christian music. When I’m deeply aware of His presence, there are often tears in
my eyes and my chest is tight. That’s just me. Each of us has his or her own way to
tune in to God’s presence, be open and be willing to be vulnerable like the tandem
bike where He says simply, “Pedal.” So, ask yourself if you are at peace with God.
Then, ask yourself if there is anyone you need to forgive. If you need help with that,
pray and you can also talk to me. Another old hymn goes, “Just a Closer Walk with
Thee, grant it Jesus is my plea. Let that be your plea as we follow Him. Amen