"And Jesus, walking be the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. And He saith unto them, 'Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.'" Matthew 4:18-19
"And when He had called the people unto Him with His disciples also,
He said unto them, "Whosoever will come after Me, let him deny himself,
and take up his cross, and follow Me." Mark 8:34
I find it so interesting that when Jesus called His disciples, His commandment to them was to "Follow Me."
A few months back, I was worshiping the Lord in the Spirit, during my devotions when the Holy Spirit spoke to my heart and revealed to me, "The highest form of worship is to follow Me." What a revelation! Praying is a wonderful connection with the Lord. Singing praises and worship to the Lord is great fellowship with Him. Going to church to worship with the congregation is admirable, and all these things are part of worshiping God, but they are only a part of following the Great Shepherd. Following Him is the highest form of worship.
Oscar Wilde once said, "Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery" During the time of Jesus, when Rabbinic Judaism was taking shape, a rabbi would lead his disciples in a similar way the shepherd led his sheep. The rabbi's training wasn't just the words that he taught, but it was the example of his life. It was in the way he said things, or even the movements and gestures he used while teaching. To "follow the rabbi" didn't just mean just to walk with him or behind him, but to imitate him. If the rabbi moved his hand in a certain manner, that was the way the students moved their hand. If the rabbi enunciated his words in a certain tone, the disciples enunciated their words that way, too. This is still the way of life for Chasidic Jewish people. Their way of dress and customs reflect their rabbis' customs. The way the rabbi moves during his prayers is the way the followers move.
Now, we have a Rabbi whom we are called to emulate. For even hereunto were you called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps. I Peter 4:6 But you might say,"How can we imitate Him since He is no longer here with us in a physical form, as He was with the disciples?" He sent us the greatest Teacher. He sent His own Spirit into our hearts to teach us and show us the way. "I have many things to say unto you, but you cannot bear them now. Howbeit when He, the Spirit of Truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth: for He shall not speak of Himself; but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak: and He will show you things to come." John 16:13.
Paul, in writing to the Roman church, said, "For as many as are LED by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God." Roms.8:14 And to the church in Galatians, he wrote: If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Gal. 5:25 It is the Holy Spirit that dwelt inside of Jesus that we must follow. Not men's traditions or customs - not even our own perception of Jesus. But the very life of Christ is revealed to us, day to day, as we follow in His steps by the leadership of the Holy Ghost. Paul also wrote to the Galatians and said he wasn't taught the things of the Spirit by man, "For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ." Gal. 1:12 I love what the Apostle John wrote, concerning the teachings of the Holy Spirit: But the Anointing which you have received of Him abides in you, and you need not that any man teach you: but as the same Anointing teaches you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it has taught you, you shall abide in Him. I John 2:27
