Another Friday. Another Five Minute Friday post.

Sometimes the prompt easily triggers the mind. Other times, it’s more of a struggle. That was this week.

I don’t have to tell you the drill — I’ve done that many times over. The link is on Facebook at fiveminutefriday.com. I hope to see some of you there.

If you’ve followed this blog at all, you know how much value FMF has for me. I’ve asked you to join in [you really, really should]. It’s quick. It’s easy {okay, sometimes not always}. It’s challenging. And it’s oh so rewarding. But don’t take my word for it. Here is what Kelly has to say, taken from snippets in Five Minute Friday: A Collection of Stories Written in Five Minutes Flat. Don’t listen to me. Listen to her.

“I happened across FMF and started participating on a whim, just for the fun of it. But looking back, it became more meaningful than I may have realized initially. Sometimes the word for a particular week just fit into what God was teaching me lately, and sometimes I would read others’ posts and find they were very similar to my own. In short, FMF meant I was not alone. It was a weekly reminder God will never leave or forsake us, and also He surrounds us with people to share life with.”

The timer is set. The prompt is WILLING. It’s time to GO…

Have you ever wonder why the original 12 apostles were willing to drop everything and follow Jesus? I mean, He certainly was charismatic {after all He was God}, but He wasn’t a superstar in religious circles around Galilee. He didn’t have a mega-temple where He preached and taught, but rather sort of wandered around. And He was following the ministry of John the Baptist, who we know, did have a following.

Yet, at His invitation, the fishermen dropped their nets. The publicans left their posts. The zealots switched allegiance. Businesses were handed over to others to run. Families and friends were left in the wake.

From what I could gather, the original dozen didn’t even understand what Jesus was preaching. They were looking for something different — a political leader as well as a spiritual leader. So, why were they willing to leave it all? What was the  attraction?

The reality is many did follow John the Baptist. We know … STOP

… Peter, Andrew, James, and John, at least, didn’t even know Jesus, let alone follow Him as a disciple. It was the Baptist who steered his followers away from him to Someone greater — Jesus. The Baptist preached he was only the forerunner of the Messiah and referred to Jesus as the Lamb of God.

So when Jesus made His call, the 12 accepted.

Of course, this leads me to the question, why are you willing to follow Jesus? It’s a question I’ve asked myself as well.

Certainly, my church upbringing was foundational. I was willing to commit to following Jesus at Confirmation as a pre-teen {I recognize I was not always successful}. And as I meandered through life, I came to the realization Jesus was not only a figurehead but my Best Friend. And as I’ve developed this platform, I have been willing to share those intimate experiences with my God and Savior.

So, I’ll ask the question again. Why are you willing to follow Jesus? Or, why are you not willing to follow Jesus? What are you willing to give up or not give up?

There is no right or wrong answer. It’s a personal answer … but it’s one that has to be asked.

THOUGHT TO REMEMBER: People are illogical, unreasonable and self-centered. Love them anyway. — Kent Keith

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