There is a similar plan for our spiritual lives: stop, drop and follow Christ, just as He has asked.

When we read John 1:35-51, we see Christ inviting His disciples to stop, drop what they were doing and follow Him. Andrew had been following John the Baptist; it was now time for him to be a follower of Jesus Christ. He quickly found his brother Simon (verse 41). The excitement grew when Christ invited Philip to follow Him in verse 43. Philip then passed along the news to Nathanael. As we read in the account in Matthew 4:18-22, it becomes clear that the disciples chose to stop, drop and follow. The choice these men made set an example for us today.

The commitment to follow is not a new one. In the Old Testament there are several recordings of God's people following Him. Consider the exampe of the husband-and-wife team Abram and Sarai. In Genesis 12:1-4 they stopped, dropped and followed God into a new land and a new life, taking a journey they had never taken before. Of course, the Israelites under the leadership of Moses followed God for decades.

In Numbers 14:24, we find an Old Testament celebrity named Caleb. In the middle of verse 24 God states that Caleb "has followed Me fully."

These are all examples of strong men and women who lived and followed a journey much like our own. They, like us, did not know what tomorrow would bring, but they chose to follow God with faith. We have been invited to do the same!

We have read about those who chose to say, "Yes, I will follow." We also have recorded for us examples of those who did not make the same choice. In Luke 9:57-62, we find those who, unfortunately, could not commit to such a following and made excuses.

This is where the story becomes personal. This is where you stop, drop and follow—no one else can do this for you! Step number one has occurred—God has stopped you. He has your attention. Are you going to give Him all your focus or something less?

Number two: What do you need to drop? Is it like the fishing net that Peter, Andrew, James and John dropped? In other words, is physical livelihood getting in the way of following Him completely? It's important to realize that we all still have the same excuses to overcome as those in the Bible.

Number three: Take the step of faith to drop whatever it is and follow. Drop the insecurities that can hold us hostage from following Christ to the fullest.

Christ's first words and some of His last are the same: "Follow Me." Each step of our physical life leads us to a deeper dependency on Christ's life and death for us, for our journey is a daily adventure of commitment to follow His path. Our ultimate goal is to be a part of His inclusive plan for all mankind, to serve, to love and to follow our Father as our Elder Brother has done. Don't wait for an emergency "9-1-1" fire plan. Stop, drop and follow today! UN