Fair Weather Follower

My wife and I went to the Braves game in Atlanta with some young friends last Friday and had a blast. I realized that I’ve become a “fair weather follower” of the Braves. I knew only one or two players on the team. I don’t own a Braves shirt. I did wear a dark blue shirt. I usually ignore “the chop” but caved to peer pressure from my friends. I do enjoy watching as the game unfolds and there are hits made and some missed calls or drama on the field. I used to listen to the games on the radio if I couldn’t watch it on television.  I used to enjoy a lot of baseball, but somewhere along the way, I became more intense about other things that carried much more weight in my life. I still enjoy a game every now and then, but there are those who plan their afternoon or evening around a baseball game. I’ve accepted the fact that I’m a “fair weather follower” of Braves baseball.

I do not ever want to be known as a “fair weather follower” of The Lord. I want to be known as a “die hard follower” of God. I have been a Christian since third grade, but I’ve not been a follower of God the whole time. In the past several years, my faith in God has become the center piece of my life. I still struggle and fail, but I’ve learned the immeasurable value of grace and mercy that calls me to repentance and I get back up and again run after Him.

Jeremiah calls out the people of Israel who had become “fair weather followers” of God. Check this out…..

²⁶ “Israel is like a thief
    who feels shame only when he gets caught.
They, their kings, officials, priests, and prophets—
    all are alike in this.
²⁷ To an image carved from a piece of wood they say,
    ‘You are my father.’
To an idol chiseled from a block of stone they say,
    ‘You are my mother.’
They turn their backs on me,
    but in times of trouble they cry out to me,
    ‘Come and save us!’
²⁸ But why not call on these gods you have made?
    When trouble comes, let them save you if they can!
For you have as many gods
    as there are towns in Judah.
²⁹ Why do you accuse me of doing wrong?
    You are the ones who have rebelled,”
    says the Lord. (Jeremiah 2:26-29 NLT)

I want to be a committed follower of God every day.

I don’t want to ignore Him when I want something that He wouldn’t want me to have.

I want to listen to His Presence and His Prompting in my every day, regular life. I want to talk to Him about everything. I want to grow in my commitment to Him, not to be noticed by others, but to be noticed by Him. This level of following draws me into His Word and to come before Him all throughout my day. This daily journey soon becomes my life journey!

Pressing On!

Dwayne