What have you left to follow Jesus or what are you willing to leave behind? Following Jesus is not always easy and can be very difficult at times. Often we have to leave something to pursue what God has planned, but thankfully His plans are always far greater than what we have planned.
In the story of the women at the well after she discovers who Jesus is and that He, Jesus, is in fact the Messiah, she left her water jar to go and bring others to Him. (John 4:28) Here is a woman that came to do a task of getting water but instead when she found living water left the water jar she was carrying to tell others all about this man that could tell her all the things she had done (John 4:29)
In fact the disciples when they were called by Jesus to follow Him, they left their work, their nets and followed. (Matt 4:20, Mark 1:18) Some left their families, “immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed Him.” (Matt. 4:22) Often we do not count the cost of following Jesus fully.
Where is Your Heart?
Now behold, one came and said to Him, “Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?” So He said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one [is] good but One, [that is], God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.” He said to Him, “Which ones?” Jesus said, “‘You shall not murder,’ ‘You shall not commit adultery,’ ‘You shall not steal,’ ‘You shall not bear false witness,’ ‘Honor your father and [your] mother,’ and, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ ” The young man said to Him, “All these things I have kept from my youth. What do I still lack?” Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.
Matthew 19:16-22 NKJV
In this passage the rich young ruler had much but unlike the disciples with their boats and family, he was unwilling to leave it all to follow Jesus. He valued his possessions more than having the treasures in heaven and being a disciple of Christ. In Mark’s account “Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me.” (Mark 10:21). Jesus first and foremost loved this young man. It was out of love that Jesus told him what to do. Jesus says if you want to be perfect, but Jesus was the only one that was and is perfect. This man although he claims to have done everything in the natural to obey the laws, still his heart was for his possessions more than Jesus. Jesus wants our heart and anything that would prevent us from fully following Him can hinder us. It could be work, family or possessions. Jesus may never ask you to leave everything behind, but he will always want a heart that is fully surrendered to Him.
No Turning Back
I want to note that although the disciples had left their boats to follow Jesus, they were still able to go back to them after his death. It’s interesting that they still went back to the very thing they had once left and that is were Jesus found them again after the resurrection. Yet when Jesus called them after the resurrection there is no indication they went back again. Often we go back to what we know or what was comfortable; when we loose hope or take our eyes off from Christ. If Jesus calls you out of something, it is usually because He knows it can become a stronghold in your life and He is calling you out into something that will draw you closer to Him.
Stepping Out, Trusting God
Jesus called Peter to step out of the boat, not for him to sink but instead for Peter to keep his focus on Jesus even when the wind and waves were all around. (Matt 14:29) Jesus will often ask you to do things that are impossible in the natural or in our flesh. But with God all things are possible. (Matt. 19:26) Often the most difficult thing to do is trusting God wherever we are called. This could be a calling to go into full-time ministry, a calling to go to bible college, a calling to talk to a random person about Jesus, a calling to pray for a co-worker, a calling to share your testimony with a neighbor.
God will call you to do things that may be difficult. You can respond as the women at the well and leave behind your water pot and go to share the good news of the Messiah, you may leave your work behind to go into ministry, you may have to step out of the boat and trust God during an impossible situation. In everything Jesus wants our hearts fully surrendered to Him. Will you have the heart of Ruth today:
But Ruth said: “Entreat me not to leave you, [Or to] turn back from following after you; For wherever you go, I will go; And wherever you lodge, I will lodge; Your people [shall be] my people, And your God, my God. Where you die, I will die, And there will I be buried. The LORD do so to me, and more also, If [anything but] death parts you and me.”
Ruth 1:16-17
Ruth was willing to leave her country, her people, her gods to follow Naomi even unto death. She had already seen the lost of her husband, her brother-in-law, and her father-in-law. Yet still she was willing to leave it all. Are you? Often we have to give something up to gain kingdom benefits. Jesus came to give us life and to give it to us more abundantly. (John 10:10) When you put your trust completely in Him, He will not fail you. He has so much for you and those around you if only you would trust Him today. What are you willing to leave for Christ today? Ask Him if there is an area of your life that needs to go. Maybe you have to let go of your past failures, your pride, or your fleshly desires. I leave you with this final word:
Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the LORD your God, He [is] the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.
Deuteronomy 31:6
He loves YOU and is for YOU! Trust Him today and always. Amen
Such a good message, Jamie! One to really contemplate and submit to the Father. One that needs to be revisited seasonally. Constant examination of the heart and priorities