Craig Clouston

 A Great Follower

June 16

Come, follow me.

Matthew 4:19

Jesse was in his senior year of high school and still hadn’t gained acceptance to

one of the three major colleges on his wish list. He’d sent applications to two of

the three but had been denied admittance due to what they stated was “a lack

of leadership quality.”

Deciding to try a different approach with the third school, he wrote on

his application that he was quite sure they were looking for students who were

great leaders. “Eventually I hope to become a great leader. However,” he wrote,

“I am a great follower.” Depositing the envelope in the mailbox, he began the

tedious wait for their response.

Three weeks later, his father handed him a letter that had arrived that

morning. It was his response from the third school. Looking at it with appre-

hension, he felt this was his last opportunity for acceptance into an Ivy League

college. Slowly, he opened the envelope, pulled the letter from it, and read his

fate. “We are happy to announce that we have several openings for followers.

We were inundated this year with applications from great leaders and needed

to fill the requirements for each category. We congratulate you on your accep-

tance for enrollment.”

Jesse smiled at the amusing response his comment had elicited.

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Jesus wasn’t looking for great leaders when he called the Twelve. And it’s a

good thing for us they didn’t need to be. They were ordinary men with their

own faults, yet they each had something that Jesus saw and intended to nurture.

If leadership skills were a requirement, then most likely none of them

would have qualified for the position of apostle.

What a lesson for us! These ordinary men couldn’t lead anyone anywhere

when Jesus first asked them to leave everything behind and follow him. Yet

each one of them dropped everything, deciding to see what this Man could

show them.

They were the epitome of the term follower. And over the next three years,

they were transformed into great leaders who changed the world.

Before we can become great leaders, we must learn to be great followers.

Prayer

“Lord Jesus, take my hand and lead me. I

want to be a great follower. Amen.”