Getting Set to Follow

This past weekend I had the opportunity to watch some of our youth compete at a cow show. At this point it probably comes as no surprise that my agricultural knowledge is little-to-none. My experience with cows is mostly limited to the end result in cheeseburger form. So I went in with a simple goal: support our kids, be curious, and learn something. And I did.

What amazed me most wasn’t the cows themselves (though they were impressive), but the kids leading them. These animals were many times bigger than the young people guiding them. And yet, with a small tug, a word, or a gesture, those cows would stop, turn, or “get set” exactly when prompted. Watching it, I kept thinking: The cows outweigh these kids by hundreds of pounds, and yet they’re listening. Those animals had clearly learned to recognize a voice, respond to direction, and trust the one leading them.

That image stuck with me as I looked ahead to our Bible reading plan for this week, where one of the assigned readings is Matthew 5–7—the Sermon on the Mount. At the very end of that sermon, Jesus says something striking. He tells us that hearing his words isn’t enough. What matters is putting them into practice. He compares it to building a house—either on solid rock or on shifting sand. It’s the same storm, the same rain, but with very different results. In other words, Jesus isn’t just asking for our attention. He’s asking for our response.

We’re often pretty good at listening. We hear sermons. We read Scripture. We nod along. But Matthew 5–7 pushes us to ask a deeper question: Are we actually letting Jesus lead us? Are we learning his voice well enough that when he says “stop,” we stop? When he says “go,” we go? When he calls us to love our enemies, forgive freely, pray honestly, and trust God daily—do we get set and follow?

Watching those kids and their cows reminded me that strength doesn’t come from size alone. It comes from training, trust, and consistency. And the same is true for discipleship. As we read through the Sermon on the Mount this week, my encouragement is simple: don’t rush it. Listen for Jesus’ voice. Pay attention to where he’s nudging you. And when he prompts you—however small it may seem—take a step and follow. After all, if a big ole cow can learn to respond to guidance, surely there’s hope for the rest of us.

May God hold you,
Rev Chris Hester