Devotional Guide
Hindrances to Following
Mark 10:17 - 22
Monday January 23
Exodus
6:9; Acts 7:25 Numbers 21:4 - 5
There
are many biblical examples of hindrances to following. Following
is difficult
for those in difficult circumstances. This
is exemplified by the Israelites in Egypt who, being enslaved, were broken in
spirit and would not listen to Moses. Later, in the wilderness and without
water, they grew impatient with Moses. It
was important for the people to listen to Moses and follow him, especially in
difficult circumstances, because God had sent him to deliver them.
Think About It: Faith is required of followers who find
themselves in difficult circumstances, so that they can look beyond the
problems of the moment. What helps to
develop and encourage the capacity for faith in the face of great difficulties?
Prayer: For the faith to follow even
in the face of difficulties.
Tuesday January 24
Zechariah
10:2; Matthew 23:2 - 3
Following
is not only hindered, it is impossible when there is no leadership. The leaderless wander aimlessly. Following is hindered when leadership is
defective. Hypocritical leaders lose the
respect and trust of their followers.
Nevertheless good followers will respect the authority inherent in the
leadership position, even if the person holding the position is in some way
defective.
Think About It: Some people resent any authority and would
therefore view being leaderless as freedom.
According to Zechariah, what is the state of the leaderless? What is my
attitude towards positions of authority? Do I have (and have I demonstrated)
the capacity to defer to the authority of a position even when I have my doubts
about the person holding that position?
What does Jesus say I should do regarding the directions given by hypocritical
leaders?
Prayer: For deliverance from the
affliction of having no leadership; for the wisdom to defer to the authority of
leadership.
Wednesday January 25
Judges
2:10; Ezekiel 12:2
Difficult
circumstances and defective leadership are external hindrances to following.
Most of the hindrances to following are within the follower. The Israelites of
the second generation in the Promised Land ceased to follow the Lord because
they were ignorant of what the Lord had done for their fathers. Centuries later the Jews in the last days of
the kingdom of Judah were rebellious and therefore blind and deaf to the Lord's
warnings, so that they also failed to follow the Lord.
Think About It: How did it happen that the second generation
of Jews in the Promised Land did not know what the Lord had done for them? Am I
bearing witness to what the Lord has done for me to the next generation?
What had
to happen to the Jews of Ezekiel's day in order for their eyes and ears to be
opened? Am I a rebel?
Prayer: That I might be a faithful
witness; that my spiritual eyes and ears might be open to the Lord's teaching
and leading.
Thursday January 26
Jeremiah
42:11; Psalm 37:9; Luke 5:10 - 11
Fear is
a great hindrance to following, whether the fear is of the leadership itself,
or of where the leadership wants us to go. One great, consistent theme of Scripture
is "Do not be afraid."
Think About It: Nebuchadnezzar was no friend
of either the Jewish people or their beliefs -- yet God commanded the Jews not
to fear him. Why did they need not fear? How does Psalm 37:9 relate to this
reason for not being afraid? Of what
might the disciples have been afraid when Jesus called them? Of what am I afraid?
Prayer: That I might follow
fearlessly.
Friday January 27
Proverbs
3:7; 19:27; 25:6; Ecclesiastes 10:4
Pride
hinders following. A follower may resist leadership because he thinks he knows
better than the leader. If a follower feels he knows everything he needs to
know, he closes his mind and soon begins to stray from the way. A follower may attempt to boost himself in
the belief that he is better than others, which only causes division and
resentment. A follower who is rebuked by
a leader may have his pride injured and quit his position.
Think About It: Why is pride considered one
of the "seven deadly sins?" Do I desire leadership roles in order to
gratify my pride? In what ways does
pride prevent a person from being a good follower? from being a good leader?
Prayer: For the grace of humility.
Saturday Janaury 28
Jonah
1:2; Act 11:2 - 18; 15:19
Prejudice
hinders following. Jonah had a deep ethnic hatred of the Ninevites (not without
cause) and wanted God to destroy them. Therefore he resisted following the
Lord's instruction to preach at Nineveh.
The Jews had a loathing of the Gentiles that must have been difficult to
overcome, even in the church. The Jewish
Christians showed themselves good followers of the Lord by following the
leadership of Peter, James, Paul, and Barnabas in receiving the Gentiles into
the church on an equal footing.
Think About It: What are my prejudices? What
would those who know me best say are my prejudices? Are there places I don't
want to go and things I won't do and people I don't like because of my
prejudices? Are my prejudices getting in
the way of my following the Lord? What do I need to about it?
Prayer: Lord, help me to overcome
prejudices and love like You do.
Sunday January 29
Judges
12:12; Ezekiel 20:18; Hosea 5:11; Mark 7:8; 10:17 - 22
Divided
loyalty is a great hindrance to following.
In worldly things everyone has to deal with the issue of meeting the
demands of multiple leaders and authorities, which can be done only with
compromise and accommodation. In the
spiritual realm there is only one God, a rightfully jealous God, who demands
from His followers their sole allegiance, worship, and obedience.
Think About It: Based on the Scripture
passages for today, what are some things that people follow rather than
following the Lord? Am I following any of these things? Why is God
"rightfully" jealous? Am I
giving Him my sole allegiance, worship, and obedience?
Prayer: That I might follow Him, and Him alone.
Mark 10:21 "And Jesus, looking at him, loved him,
and said to him, 'You lack one thing: go, sell all you have and give to the
poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.'"
The rich
young ruler would not leave what he held most dear in this world in order to
have treasure in heaven, and to follow Jesus.
Have I left what I most held dear -- which in fact has a hold on me --
for the sake of following Jesus, for the sake of heaven? No looking back, no
regrets.