Why do you follow Jesus?

Real Dudes,
Last week I sat down to watch a movie with my granddaughter. I’d never seen or heard of the movie Leap before, so I was attentive to the message in it. If you haven’t seen it, there is a young girl named Felicie who is beginning ballet. She goes from being the worst in her class to competing for the lead spot in the biggest play of the year. Throughout her training and competing, one of her mentors makes the statement, “you’ll be ready when you can answer the question, ‘Why do you dance?’” Almost frustrated with the number of times she’s asked it, Felicie can’t stop thinking about how to best answer the question. Nearing the end of the movie, immediately following a dance-off with her competitor (Camille), the gentleman (Merante…he is the one responsible for choosing who plays which role in the play), has the following exchange with the two young girls…

• Mérante: [after Felicie wins the dance-off between Camille and herself] Impressive, ladies! But let me ask you both an important question. WHY do you dance?
• Camille: [confidently] I dance because...
• [less confident]
• Camille: I dance because... Because...
• [meekly]
• Camille: My mother makes me?
• [Merante looks to Felicie, hoping for a better answer]
• Felicie: [sincerely] Because it's always been a part of my life. It was there with my mom when I was a baby. It's here now thanks to Odette. It allows me to live. To be myself.
• Camille: [remorseful] She should dance.
• [Felicie give her an astonished look]
• Mérante: That was very honest, Miss Le Haut, and brave. You have a future at the Opera, if you wish it.
• [Camille gives him a grateful smile]
• Mérante: Felicie, tonight, YOU dance 'The Nutcracker'!
• [the crowd breaks out into applause as Felicie looks around in awe and humility]
• https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2261287/quotes/?item=qt4022959 

Another statement made in the movie is this… “You get the part because you have something she can only dream of – passion.” https://ballerina-leap.fandom.com/wiki/Odette/Quotes 
Men, let me ask you this…Why are you a follower of Christ? For all these years have you been attending church because it’s something your parents forced you to do? Or is it because you’re passionate about following Jesus and that’s what you live for?
This made me think of the conversation between Jesus and Peter in John 21:15-17. Three times Jesus asks Peter if he loves Him or not. Peter responds verbally with a YES each time. Jesus tells Peter, “then feed My sheep.” You see, it’s not just about telling Jesus you love Him, but it’s actually proving it through our actions. It’s almost as though Jesus asks Peter, “Why do you follow Me?” Can you explain that to Me? If it’s because you love me and you’re passionate about living the Christian life, then are you prepared to back up your words with actions? You’ll devote your life to feeding My sheep because you love and follow Me.
What if someone asked you the question, “Why do you follow Christ?” What would your response be? Would you resemble Camille in the movie and stumble over your words and come up with some empty answer, or would you look more like Felicie who got to a point where she was prepared to always be ready to explain it?
What did the producers do to draw you to Felicie in the movie, what caused you to cheer her on, what created emotions within you because of her statement? She got it…at a young age someone spoke into her, asked her the question, and she owned it for herself.
What about you…do you own your relationship with the Lord and your service for Him? Are you truly passionate about Him and His ways? Men, let me ask each of us an important question – Why do you follow Jesus? Do you have a thought out and prepared response? I pointed out earlier the statement from the movie, “you’ll be ready when you can answer the question, ‘Why do you dance?’” Men, you’ll be ready to be all-in for Jesus and used by Him when you can answer the question, Why do you follow Jesus? What’s your initial response? Something to mull over, pray about, and then act on.
Practicing His Presence,
Nate

1 Peter 3:15 (NLT) Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it.