OK.  You have a busy day.  One of those days where you feel like there is no way you can get everything done that you need to do.  Your calendar is crammed . . . every minute is accounted for.  You know days like this . . .

Now, think about this – who has the power to disrupt your schedule on a day like that BY YOUR CHOICE?  Who has such an influence on you that you would rearrange other priorities to make space for an unexpected visitor?

For most of us, those with the power to override our schedule fall into one of three categories:

  1. Someone we love. I may have a lot going on during a busy day, but if my wife shows up at the office, I am glad to see her.
  2. Someone we need.  Many of us have had the experience of waiting for results from a medical test.  Regardless of what else is happening, when the phone rings and the doctor’s office number shows up in the caller ID, you interrupt your regular scheduled program to answer the call.  If you have no current medical emergency, you probably let the doc leave a message.
  3. Someone we revere.  Regardless of political affiliation, if a current or former President of the United States stopped by your home, you would invite them inside.  Regardless of school affiliation, if Bob Stoops invites you to dinner, you probably say “yes.”

Knowing that there are those with the power to tear up our “to do” list, I want you to think about the year you have in front of you.  No doubt, it is full of a lot of things.  You have a lot projects at work, activities for the kids, classes to study for, events to plan and attend, etc., etc.

Now, before you get totally stressed out with the items on your calendar, I want to let you know something amazing.  Someone we love (and who loves us), someone we need, and someone we revere is standing on your today and inviting you into tomorrow.  In fact, it is the same Someone for each of us.  It is the person of Jesus Christ.  He has promised to be with us always . . . even today.  His invitation to us is the same today as it was 2,000 years ago – “FOLLOW ME.” 

As people with busy schedules, it seems tough to think of following Jesus.  Especially if we assume it is just another thing to add to our “to do” list.  To be fair, following Jesus will impact your calendar . . . but it is FAR MORE THAN THAT.  Jesus wants to walk with you through your work week, be with you in your family life, join you in your volunteer commitments.  He is with us ALWAYS.

So what does it look like for us to follow Jesus?  Over the next 7 weeks at Wildwood we will be starting a new school year by talking about what it means to “FOLLOW.”  This Sunday we will kick off this series by looking at the identity of the One we are invited to follow from Matthew 8:1-17, 9:1-8.  I hope you make space in your calendar to join us at Wildwood this Sunday in our 8:30, 9:45, or 11:00 service as we fix our eyes on Following Him together this year.  Join us, and bring a friend!

The 7 weeks of this series will focus on:

  • August 13: The One We Follow  (Matthew 8:1-17, 9:1-8)
  • August 20: Why Don’t We Follow? (Matthew 8:18-34)
  • August 27:  Who Can Follow? (Matthew 9:9-17)
  • September 3:  Faith to Follow (Matthew 9:18-34)
  • September 10:  Inviting More to Follow (Matthew 9:35-10:15)
  • September 17:  Fear of the Follower (Matthew 10:16-33)
  • September 24:  Reward of the Follower (Matthew 10:34-42)

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