Following At a Distance

“Then they seized him and led him away, bringing him into the high priest’s house, and Peter was following at a distance.” Luke 22:54 ESV

I have been thinking a lot lately about what it really means to follow Jesus, and I have become increasingly aware of how often I try to do it from a distance. It is easy to say that I follow Him. I attend church, I read Scripture, I serve, I pray…sometimes. Yet, when I slow down long enough to take an honest look at my life, I can see that I am not always walking beside Him. Many times I am several steps behind, staying far enough away to feel comfortable while still claiming to be close.

There are moments when I want the identity of being His disciple but still want to blend into the world around me. Following Him from a distance gives me a place to hide when things become uncomfortable. It allows me to avoid full surrender. It gives me the feeling of being spiritual without the actual transformation that comes from walking closely with Him. But that is not the kind of following Jesus ever intended for me.

Jesus never called me to admire Him from afar or to stay close enough only when it feels safe. He called me to follow Him. That means walking beside Him and learning to live and love the way He did. It means giving up my own way every single day. He never promised that this kind of life would be easy, but He did promise that it would be worth it.

My pastor likes to say that delayed obedience is simply disobedience. I believe the same thing can be said about following from a distance. It is not really following Him at all. True discipleship is close and immediate, it is not partial or casual. It is not something done when it is convenient, it costs something. It costs EVERYTHING.

So today I am choosing to acknowledge the many times I have held back. I am admitting the times when fear, comfort, or pride shaped the pace of my walk. I do not want to blend in anymore. I want to walk closely with Jesus even when it stretches me. Even when it affects my reputation or my comfort or my plans. Over the next few weeks I will be journaling my thoughts, prayers, and reflections as I ask God to show me what it really means to follow Him fully.

Scriptures for Reflection

Matthew 16:24 ESV

“Then Jesus told his disciples, If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.”

First John 2:6 ESV

“Whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.”

John 10:27 ESV

“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.”

Prayer

Jesus, I confess that I have followed You from a distance. I have chosen safety over surrender and comfort over closeness. I have tried to hold on to enough of You to feel secure without stepping into the kind of life that sets me apart. I ask for Your forgiveness for that. Teach me to walk closely with You one moment at a time. Give me courage to step away from the crowd and into full obedience. Help me recognize Your voice and follow You with my whole heart. I do not want to trail behind anymore. I want to walk with You. Amen.