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BEHIND THE SONG WITH KEVIN DAVIS
#104 - "Follow You" by Leeland
Leeland and Jack Mooring talk with NRT Contributor Kevin Davis about their song that encourages us to follow God to the poor and needy.
 


Leeland’s passionate, progressive music is well known for creating a stir among a new generation of worshipers. Love Is On The Move continues the band’s mission of calling believers toward an active role in being God’s hands and feet on earth so that His kingdom can continue to press into the world. With a collection of epic vertical songs, Leeland’s powerful anthems and penetrating melodies are poised to spark a new revival in the church.

I got the great opportunity to interview Jack and Leeland Mooring about “Follow You.” You can listen to our entire interview here.

“Follow You” includes the lyrics, “Use my hands, use my feet / To make Your kingdom come / Through the corners of the earth / Until Your work is done / `cause faith without works is dead." Would you please share any personal application of what that looks like for you, as Christians?

We went to Cambodia and Bangladesh together for “Food For The Hungry.” We saw people living in cardboard boxes and understand what true poverty looks like. That ministry is doing an incredible job transforming lives. They are not giving handouts, but they are helping to serve and equip people to rise out of poverty. Sponsoring a child for $1 per day changes the whole village.

In our community in Texas, there are problems across the street, too. We have homeless here in Texas, and we are trying to reach out to the poor and needy. Every Thursday, our church provides food for the homeless.

Ask your waiter or waitress how they are doing, and ask Jesus to open up your eyes to the needs for those around us. Our neighbors have lost their jobs or their marriage is on the rocks. God knows everyone’s story, and He cares so much!

Please tell me the personal story behind writing this song.

A couple of years ago, we got the chance to attend the Hillsong worship conference. During the conference they showed a video clip of Bono saying, "God is in the slums, in the cardboard boxes where the poor play house. God is in the silence of a mother who has infected her child with a virus that will end both their lives. God is in the cries heard under the rubble of war. God is in the debris of wasted opportunity and lives, and God is with us if we are with them."

We immediately went into the hallway and started writing “Follow You.” We wanted to write a song that talked about how worship and justice should be together. After we experience the love of Jesus, we should be motivated to share His love. Jesus said that those who love Him will abide in His Word.

Please tell me about any Bible verses that you used to write the song.

Matthew 25:31-40: When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. Then the King will say to those on his right, "Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me." Then the righteous will answer him, "Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?" The King will reply, "I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me."

What do you consider to be the take-away message for listeners?

God’s there, right beside every person in the world. Now is the time for us to get up and follow in God’s footsteps. It’s really that simple. Find out where God is and run to meet him there! We know that God’s heart aches for the poor and the needy. They are His children too. As we reach out to people that are hurting, our problems begin to shrink, and we draw closer to God’s heart in the process! This is what the song “Follow You” is all about.

Here are the lyrics:

You lived among the least of these
The weary and the weak
And it would be a tragedy for me to turn away.

All my needs You have supplied.
When I was dead You gave me life.
How could I not give it away so freely?

And I’ll follow You into the homes that are broken.
Follow You into the world.
Meet the needs for the poor and the needy God.
Follow You into the world.

Use my hands use my feet
To make Your kingdom come
Through the corners of the earth
Until Your work is done
`cause faith without works is dead
And on the cross Your blood was shed
So how could I not give it away so freely?

And I’ll follow You into the homes that are broken.
Follow You into the world.
Meet the needs for the poor and the needy God.
Follow You into the world.
(x2)

I give all myself.
I give all myself
I give all myself. To You.

And I give all myself.
Yes I give all myself.
And I give all myself. To You.

And I’ll follow You into the homes that are broken
Follow You into the world.
Meet the needs for the poor and the needy God.
Follow You into the world.


This is an amazing song by a band who really understands what it means to walk with God. Here are Jack’s thoughts about the message of the song: “If the church doesn’t respond to the world’s brokenness, it would be the greatest tragedy in all of history. We have what it takes! We have the very love of God in our hearts. We have faith to see the impossible come to pass, and we have a God that’s waiting to back us up in this mission. Ask God to open your eyes today. Ask Him to reveal His footsteps, so you can follow them. They will lead you to some amazing places.”


Kevin Davis is a long time fan of Christian music, an avid music collector and credits the message of Christian music for leading him to Christ. Kevin also writes reviews for ChristianMusicReview.org. He currently lives in Pennsylvania with his wife and three daughters.

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