The Path: Follow Me
Matthew 4:18–20
The Trail That Requires Commitment
Every journey begins with a single step. After that first moment of curiosity at the Trailhead, the path begins where curiosity grows into desire, and you take the next step. A calling turns into a response you live out, and the invitation to “Come and see” becomes something more:
“Follow Me.”
Years ago, while living in Los Angeles, I learned something about paths. A coworker invited a friend and me to join him and his son on a hike up Mount Langley, one of California’s “fourteeners,” in the Sierra Nevadas. I had never been to that area before and didn’t know what to expect, but I was eager to explore.
We drove northeast to Lone Pine, entered Inyo National Forest, and parked at the Cottonwood Lakes Trailhead. From there, we started a several-mile hike to our campsite, about 11,000 feet up, just below the tree line.
The hike wasn’t too difficult, but like most real paths, it didn’t go in a straight line. We followed switchbacks through old, twisted, and beautiful foxtail pines. The trail rose and fell along ravines, small rivers, and thinning woods. Some parts were steep and tiring, but there were also short downhill stretches where we could rest.
I didn’t know how long the hike would be or what was ahead. I just trusted the map, the trail, and my friend who had done it before.
That’s what a path is like. You commit to it before you really know where it will lead.
The main point for today is that The Path is where curiosity becomes commitment.
The Call to Follow
Matthew tells us that Jesus began His ministry on a path, a real shoreline path along the Sea of Galilee.
“And Jesus, walking by the Sea of Galilee, saw two brothers, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. Then He said to them, ‘Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.’ They immediately left their nets and followed Him.” Matthew 4:18–20
This is the first moment in the New Testament where someone moves from the Trailhead to the Path.
Jesus doesn’t give them a map. He doesn’t explain the terrain. He doesn’t tell them how long the journey will be.
He says:
“Follow Me.”
And they take the step.
Years later, Peter would hear the same call again at the same lake.
After the resurrection, Jesus meets Peter again on the shores of Galilee. Peter feels discouraged and ashamed, and he thinks he has lost his calling. But Jesus restores him by asking him three times:
“Do you love Me?”
Then He commissions him:
“Feed My sheep.”
And finally, He repeats the same words He spoke at the beginning of Peter’s journey:
“Follow Me.” John 21:19
A few verses later, He says it again:
“You follow Me.” John 21:22
It’s the same lake, the same shore, and the same call.
This shows what the whole journey of discipleship looks like:
Follow Me at the beginning.
Follow Me after failure.
Follow Me for the rest of your life.
Why This Matters for Your Journey Compass
The Path: Follow Me (Matthew 4)
First call
First step
First obedience
Leaving nets
Beginning apprenticeship
The Summit: Abide in Me (John 21) - coming soon
Restoration
Renewal
Intimacy
Presence
“Feed My sheep”
“You follow Me”
Jesus meets Peter at the same lake to say:
“Follow Me” when you begin.
“Follow Me” when you fail.
“Follow Me” as you grow.
This is the core truth of discipleship.
This is The Path.
The Rabbinic Yoke: Becoming Like Your Teacher
In the Hebrew world, following a rabbi meant copying his way of life, not just learning facts. A disciple didn’t just learn what the rabbi knew; he learned to live as the rabbi lived.
Jesus’ call was not simply to learn about Him. it was to become like Him!
“A disciple… will be like his teacher.” Luke 6:40
Following Jesus means adopting:
His practices
His pace
His priorities
His posture
The Path is where your rabbi’s teachings become part of your daily life. It’s where you begin to walk as your Rabbi walks.
Learning the Practices of Jesus
So, what does your path look like? Have you taken steps past the Trailhead?
Let me share a very recent example from my life.
Over a year ago, a pastor friend was asking me to join him in a study of “biblical flourishing.” Honestly, flourishing isn’t a word I usually connect with Christian life. The noun flourishing isn’t in Scripture, though the verb flourish is, especially in the Old Testament. Still, the idea felt a bit odd to me. I can admit that I wasn’t intrigued.
But a few weeks later, a small curiosity, like a quiet nudge at the Trailhead, led me to do a word study. That study grew into looking at many words. This curiosity led me down a path where Scripture began to shape me, not just serve as a source of information.
Now, almost a year later, that path has brought me to this website, this post, and this moment. I am eager to see what is around the next corner.
So, what about you?
What is the Path Jesus is calling you to follow?
There are many practices or spiritual disciplines, but here are a few examples of how He might be calling you to follow Him and become more like Him.
Grow in your prayer life: Prayer shapes you when it moves from being transactional (what we want/need from God) to relational. Try talking to God openly and honestly, like you would with your closest friend. Get comfortable with silence and take time to rest in His presence. Over time, prayer becomes a place where you look forward to slowing down and growing in trust.
Practice Sabbath rest: Sabbath isn’t just a day off. It’s a rhythm that follows God’s creative pattern and helps us resist hurry and self-reliance. When you stop, you remember that it’s God, not your own efforts, that sustains you. You can enjoy the gift of rest and delight in our Creator, who gives us everything we need.
Extend open-handed generosity: Generosity isn’t about how much you give, but about the posture of your heart. I’ll share more on this later. One of the best things about open-handed giving is that you can’t hold onto fear or scarcity, and you start to trust God’s provision more. Generosity enables you to reflect Jesus’ open-handed love.
Explore healing confession: Confession is a word that’s often been misunderstood in Christian history. It’s not about shame or punishment. It’s about being honest. Saying, “Here is the truth about me.” When we’re transparent with God about our failures and fears, we make room for grace that leads to a deeper closeness with Him.
Engage a community: The journey is never meant to be alone. Community isn’t just a group of friends; it’s the Church (with a capital C). In the Church, you’re surrounded by a family of believers who share your burdens, speak truth in love, and help you hear Jesus’ voice. Earlier, I wrote about three moments that shaped my life:
All three moments resulted from my engagement in Christian community. Worship, encouragement, accountability, and the practices above all grow stronger when we live together as the Body of Christ.
Trailhead moments become Path practices as:
You begin doing what Jesus did.
You begin living how Jesus lived.
You begin walking at His pace … in His steps.
Ready for a next step?
Your Path Practice
First, say the following simple daily prayer:
“Jesus, teach me Your way today.”
Second, pause. Listen. See if you feel curiously pulled towards one of the practices:
Prayer
Sabbath
Generosity
Confession
Community
Third, be obedient and take one more step. Trust Him and take the next step. The Path isn’t about being perfect; it’s about moving forward.
The Path Always Leads Somewhere
Once you start walking with Jesus, He will keep inviting you into the heart of discipleship, a life of belonging, staying close, and sharing His presence.
And that’s the next movement in the Journey Compass:
More on that in the next post.
In His Fields, Jon