So Moses stood at the entrance to the camp and said, “Anyone who wants to follow the Lord should come to me.” Everyone from the tribe of Levi ran to Moses.
Exodus 32:26 ERV
In the story of our faith community, each person plays a unique role in our shared journey with God. We recently talked about how Aaron, a leader, made mistakes. But here’s the key: a leader’s mistakes don’t have to be our mistakes. Our personal connection with God is what matters most. Leaders are like guides, helping us know God better, not asking us to follow them. Even if a leader messes up, it shouldn’t change our individual journey with God. Following God is our choice.
Choosing to follow the Lord is a personal decision, never intended to be imposed. While influence can extend to church attendance, prayer meetings, and Bible studies, genuine discipleship rests on personal choice. Becoming a Christian is a voluntary commitment that each person must make individually at some point in their lives.
Regrettably, some well-intentioned Christian parents have fallen into the trap of enforcing religious practices without ensuring the genuine conversion of their children’s hearts. They inadvertently reduced Christianity to a set of rules, defining their children’s faith by a list of dos and don’ts. This assumption can be costly, as it doesn’t guarantee the transformation of their children’s lives. The children may merely be adhering to rules out of respect for their parents.
Consequently, some children, become skilled at church activities because of their constant practice. They can excel in memory verses and receive numerous accolades, yet their lives show no transformative power of the Word. They would have mastered the Church’s “culture” and “traditions” so much that one may find it difficult to fault. However, their involvement seems commendable until they start questioning the teachings they’ve absorbed. Frequently, they reinterpret the Bible, seeking to negate the instructions of their parents. They start to redefine good and evil for themselves and treat the instructions and lifestyle they followed thus far as “old school”.
However, the call to follow the Lord, as exemplified by Moses, is an invitation extended to all by their own free will. God desires people’s souls to belong to Him, but it’s a decision each individual must make willingly. The invitation is clear: “Anyone who wants to follow the Lord should come…” The desire to follow God must arise from within.
Though the Israelites just fell into the sin of idolatry, yet God still sought for people who would follow Him even from among them. He didn’t expect perfection; He knew their vulnerability to sin. What mattered was their willingness to repent and follow regardless of life’s challenges.
No matter what you’ve done before, even if it’s something really bad, God is still calling you. It’s like God is saying, “If you want to follow me, come.” This call is for each of us personally. So, despite any problems or mistakes, God’s invitation is there, calling you to decide to follow Him. And that’s what matters most.
So, if you desire to follow the Lord, the next step is clear: “come.” Leave your sinful ways behind, come to Jesus in repentance, and be assured of forgiveness and the reign of Christ in your life.
