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[0:00] A pastor's reflections. Moment of decision. Exodus 32, 26. Then Moses stood in the gate of the camp and said,! Who is on the Lord's side? Let him come unto me.

[0:14] ! And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together unto him. Joshua 24, 15. And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom you will serve.

[0:27] John 12, 26. If any man serve me, let him follow me. And where I am, there shall also my servant be.

[0:39] There is a desire in all of us to be the type of person that others would consider worth following. We may not have aspirations to lead a large organization or company, but we all have the desire to be thought of as one who is worthy of admiration for the choices we make.

[0:59] I don't think any of us would choose to be thought poorly of. In Exodus 32, the people of Israel are being given the opportunity to be leaders. God is placing before them the chance to be something more than just a part of the crowd.

[1:17] Something more than just a follower. No, it is not the opportunity to lead a large organization, but it is an opportunity to be someone worth following, someone worth admiring.

[1:30] Who wouldn't take an opportunity like that? The idea of being an admired leader is great in principle, until we realize what it may cost us in practice.

[1:40] It's a funny thing about leaders. The decisions they make are decisions that they make alone. It is the leader who leads us along the path, but it is also the leader who must then choose the path.

[1:56] When a change of path occurs, the leader may find himself walking all alone. He alone must change directions, and he alone must make the decision to do so before anyone else has started to follow.

[2:11] A true leader is determined in that moment. Will he walk the path alone, even if his followers don't follow? Matthew 7, 14 Because straight is the gate, and narrow is the way which leads unto life, and few there be that find it.

[2:30] In Christ, a true leader leads, but also follows. Not only that, but they also have someone who is there with them in every decision. The question then is not, who will follow me?

[2:45] But, will I follow Christ? Will I choose to make the decision to lead in the way that leads to Jesus? Or will I seek to keep people on board with my leadership, even if it means leading them where Jesus is not?

[3:01] Today, like the tribe of Levi in Exodus 32, choose to follow, that you may also lead. The Levites made a hard decision to follow God's deliverer, even if it meant following alone.

[3:15] And in doing so, they went from being great followers to becoming great leaders. Father, thank you for giving each of us that moment of decision where we chose to follow Jesus.

[3:29] And in doing so, you took us from being followers of the world to being leaders in faith. Help us to lead by following you. Amen.

[3:39]  Amen.