DEVOTIONAL

Loyal Followers

By Gail Keffer

There is a wonderful old song that says “I have decided to follow Jesus, no turning back.” These people did just that. And, that is all that Christ asks of us - to “follow” in the way He taught. The people in this series were loyal followers. It wasn’t easy, but very seldom is anything worthwhile easy!

The people who were loyal followers were Aaron, Samuel, Barnabas, Gabriel, Isaiah, Joshua, Moses, Priscilla and Aquila, and Elisabeth and Zachariah. They weren’t “household names” like Paul or Peter or John the Baptist. But they were important. Many people are like them today. They don’t want to be in charge. They will do their share as they are asked. And without them, those who are in a leadership position cannot succeed. Both are equally important.

Although the times have changed, the people are still the same. We still need leaders and loyal followers to accomplish God’s task on earth.

Aaron

“The LORD said to Aaron, "Go into the wilderness to meet Moses." So he went,
and met him at the mountain of God and kissed him.” Exodus 4:27

Text Box: “The LORD said to Aaron, "Go into the wilderness to meet Moses." So he went,
and met him at the mountain of God and kissed him.” Exodus 4:27

Aaron was the brother that helped Moses as he tried to free the people in Egypt and the brother that caused Moses a lot of problems while trying to be helpful.

When Moses told the Lord he could not do what he asked because he was not a good speaker, God told him to get Aaron to help. He did, and God blessed them both in many ways. Aaron was very ambitious. Moses was modest in many ways. The Lord told Moses that he should tell Aaron what had been reveled to him and that Aaron would help in his struggle to free the people. Moses told Aaron what the Lord said, the signs which they would be given, and the charges they were to heed.

Aaron responded and did what the Lord had told Moses to do. He said the right words, and showed the right signs. However, the Lord did not act quickly enough to suit Aaron. In fact it was many, many years. Aaron got weary and decided he would do some other things along the way that were not commanded by God. He assumed power and got himself in trouble. He lost the trust of the Lord and lost the faith of many of the people. He built a golden calf at one time because Moses was not there to help him over the trying times which had lasted for many years. He was not near as patient as Moses. He “meant well.” But, he had to be disciplined many times by God. Still, God blessed Aaron as Chief Priest.

How many times we mean to do the right thing. We have been given the signs of God’s power and beauty. We do fine until we decide we can handle it better than God. I know that I need patience at times! I have a cartoon my son gave me several years ago that reads “Dear Lord, I need patience, and I need it right now!” Through all of this, God uses us if we allow him to do so. He used Aaron for many good causes. But, he had to discipline him, just as He needs to discipline us at times. We need to learn that we can’t control everything.

How we respond to this discipline is important. Do we accept it and try to do better and let more of God shine through us? Do we rebel and say “Well, the church doesn’t need me. I can use my talents somewhere else?

Prayer: Gracious and loving God, you have given us so much and yet we often decide we need more money, more power, and more attention. Help us to realize that all we have comes from You, and then help us to seek to do your will and not assume we have the power to do anything except through you. Amen.

Why are we hesitant to speak up when we know the Lord has promised to be with us?
What can happen that makes us feel we can handle things without the help of God?
Have we lost sight of our real goal? Do we assume too much power?
Can we sometimes cause problems for God and other people when we are trying to be helpful?

* Gail Keffer, a lay person in Clen-Moore Church, is the author of several booklets of devotionals/Bible Character studies which are offered at no charge to any church for use on their web site or for study. At the present time 7 booklets are available.

IN THE BEGINNING THE DISCIPLES YOUNG LIONS
LENTEN SERIES THE ADVENT SERIES LOYAL FOLLOWERS
WOMEN WHO DARED TO STAND ALONE

To receive any of these on line, please contact Gail Keffer at gailkk@verizon.net.

She and her husband, Ray, have also written and published several plays for the various Christian holidays, Missions, and the Reformation.

May Bible Readings

1. 1 Samuel 21, 22; Psalm 34, 56, 11

2. 1 Samuel 23; Psalm 13, 54; 1 Corinthians 15

3. 1 Samuel 24; Psalm 57, 142, 143, 17, 36

4. 1 Samuel 25, 26; 1 Corinthians 16

5. 1 Samuel 27:1-7; 1 Chronicles 12:1-22; 1 Samuel 27:8-29:11; Psalm 6

6. 1 Samuel 30, 31; 2 Samuel 1:1-16; 1 Chronicles 10; 2 Corinthians 1:1-11

7. 2 Samuel 1:17-2:32; 1 Chronicles 12:23-40; Psalm 9, 10

8. 2 Samuel 3; 2 Corinthians 1:1-2:11

9. 2 Samuel 4:1-5:5; 1 Chronicles 11:1-3; 3:1-4a; 2 Corinthians 2:12-4:18

10. 1 Chronicles 11:4-9; 2 Samuel 5:6-16; 1 Chronicles 3:4b-9; 1 Chronicles 14:1-7; 2 Samuel 5:17-25; 1 Chronicles 14:8-17; 2 Corinthians 5:1-62

11. 1 Chronicles 13:1-14:7; 2 Samuel 6:1-11; Psalm 24, 25; 2 Corinthians 6:3-7:16

12. 1 Chronicles 15; 2 Samuel 6:12-23; Psalm 26, 27, 28

13. 1 Chronicles 16:1-15; Psalm 105; 2 Corinthians 8

14. 1 Chronicles 16:16-33; Psalm 96, 106; 1 Chronicles 16:34-43

15. 2 Samuel 7; 1 Chronicles 17; Psalm 32, 86

16. Psalm 65, 66, 67, 68; 2 Corinthians 9

17. Psalm 138, 139, 140, 141; 2 Corinthians 10

18. 1 Chronicles 18; 2 Samuel 8, 9; 2 Corinthians 11

19. 1 Chronicles 19; 2 Samuel 10; 2 Corinthians 12, 13

20. 1 Chronicles 20:1-3; 2 Samuel 11, 12; Psalm 51

21. 2 Samuel 13, 14; Psalm 12

22. 2 Samuel 15:1-16:14; Psalm 3, 4, 7

23. 2 Samuel 16:15-17:29; Psalm 31, 55

24. Psalm 61, 62, 63, 64; 2 Samuel 18:1-19:8

25. 2 Samuel 19:9-43; Psalm 38, 39m 40, 41

26. 2 Samuel 20, 21; 1 Chronicles 20:4-8; Psalm 33

27. 2 Samuel 22; Psalm 18

28. Psalm 19; 2 Samuel 23:8-39; 1 Chronicles 11:10- 47

29. 2 Samuel 24; 1 Chronicles 21:1-22:1; Psalm 6

30. 1 Chronicles 22:2-23:32; Psalm 30, 144, 145

31. 1 Chronicles 24, 25; 1 Chronicles 6:31-47; Psalm 88