Ready:
“‘Follow me,’ he told them, ‘and I will make you fish for people.’” —Matthew 4:19
Set:
Who do you follow on social media? Do you even know who you are following or do you click the follow button as soon as something catches your attention? Why does who we follow on social media or our life even matter?
Who you follow forms you. That sounds dramatic but it is true. Every day we are being influenced and in turn formed through posts, short form videos, our friends, the news and on it goes. Each interaction forms us. If we look at it from the lens of competition we can see it clearly. You meet your coach for the first time. Coach is warm and welcoming, is full of knowledge about the sport and oozes enthusiasm for your abilities. This interaction forms a positive opinion on your part. In turn, you show up to practice with a positive outlook. You work hard because you feel Coach cares and you want to make Coach happy. Your opinion of Coach was formed from the first interaction. That moment influenced you.
How are those you follow influencing you? It is a denial to say you aren’t being formed by who you follow. Following a bunch of sports stars and seeing their fancy lives forms in us a spirit of discontent. Following the newest D-1 recruit smash all expectations and rake in NIL deals by the millions might form a spirit of discouragement. Seeing the newest viral this or that often leads to overspending (and a room full of things we don’t really even need). How we think, talk and act are all shaped by who we follow.
Do you know that following Jesus doesn’t lead to discontent or discouragement? Purposefully following Jesus by learning to live and speak like He did forms you into the person God intended you to be. How we think, talk and act will be formed by the greatest Influencer of all time. The hard part is that following Jesus takes intentionality. There is no social media scroll or short form video to grow closer to Jesus. There is only time in His Word; time in His presence; time with others in Christian community. Scrolling is easy – relationship is not as easy.
Jesus says “follow me” about 21 times in the New Testament. Each time He is calling us to walk in His Words and ways. To be formed in the most beautiful ways into people who love others, seek justice and care for the overlooked. To follow Jesus is more than reading about Him in your Bible. It is being formed by what you read; being transformed from the inside out.
Go:
Do an audit of who are following on social media. Ask yourself if they draw you closer to things of faith or not.
What steps can you take to build intentional formation time with Jesus? Who can help you with that process?
Workout:
Overtime:
“Lord, open my eyes to what is forming me and how who I follow is shaping me. I am sorry for letting the world form so much of me. Draw my heart to You and transform me to be Your follower. Bring friends and mentors into my life to hold me accountable and help me as I follow You. And help me bring others to you as well. In Jesus’ name, amen.”