‘yet another said, i will follow you, Lord, but let me first say farewell to those at my home. Jesus said to him, ‘no one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.’
Luke 9.61-62
‘and a scribe came up to him and said to him, ‘Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.” and Jesus said to him, “foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nest, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” Another of the disciples said to him, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” And Jesus said to him, “follow me, and leave the dead to bury their own dead.”
Matthew 8.18-22
‘then Jesus told his disciples, ‘if anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. for whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.’
Matthew 16.24-25
‘Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heaves that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there will be your heart also.’
Luke 12.32-34
what is the cost of following Jesus?
is it not just a simple choice made to want to go to heaven.
when Jesus calls a man, He calls him to come and die to self. to take up his cross daily and live for Him. it is no longer about living for myself and my kingdom. No, instead it is all about Him. His glory. His name. His renown. My life is to be lived as a living sacrifice, dying to self daily to live for Him.
‘I have been crucified with Christ, it is no longer I who live but christ who lives in me. and the life i now live in the flesh i live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.’
Galatians 2.20
The cost seems steep. to hear Jesus say, leave the ‘dead to bury the dead’ and to hear him say to not say farewell to his family but to leave everything and follow Him, that alone makes me stop and think. why does He say these things?? i am torn. I love my family and friends. i love them so much. by the Lord’s grace I have new love for my enemies. a heart that has been in the pit and poison of bitterness is now beginning to cry out to the Lord for Him to work in my ‘enemies’ hearts. so how can i go?? i may hurt them and they may not feel that i love them. but then how can i not follow my Lord?? How can i say no and choose false comfort and false security in this world and it’s possessions. See the past few months the Lord has graciously taken everything from me that i have been putting my trust and hope in… i have been put trust and hope in man, material things, my accomplishments and pride. idols that have come crumbling down. failing me miserably. they always do and always will. the only ONE i can trust is JESUS.
so how can i not leave it all behind and follow Him??
i do not want to be like the rich man and go away sorrowful because i chose riches over Jesus.
No i want to be like the disciples… leave everything and follow Him.
they left family, possessions, occupations, friends, their comfortable way of life… everything. for HIM. and do you know what they found??
joy. pure abounding joy.
oh there was heartache for sure.
there were sleepless nights. and beatings. floggings. hunger and thirst. chains and prisons. slanders and cursing toward them. but they pressed on. they had been with Jesus and knew Him and would give up everything for Him.
after receiving His grace and salvation… that grace that was bought by the precious blood of JESUS CHRIST… how can i not give it all up for Him??
i am humbled and fall on my knees in awe. humble adoration that Jesus would call me and save me and raise this dead heart to give it life. eternal life. life that i never deserved. there is nothing good in me apart from HIM.
so the choice is hard but it is clear. i must go where He calls me.
i must go where He would have me go.
it may not be safe.
it may not be the American dream or lifestyle.
but it is His will… and my prayer is that His will be done here on earth as it is in Heaven.
so Lord today i surrender my heart and my life to You.
where you lead i will follow.
may i not lay up treasure here on earth but only treasures in heaven… where my treasures are, there is my heart.
oh Lord, i want to know you more and more… to see and behold Your glory.
to worship you and sing praises with my mouth and by the way i live this life you have given me to live.
it’s all for you.
you alone.
to you be the glory and honor and praise!!
so is the LORD calling you to come and follow Him?
to leave it all behind and follow?
if so… Go. and run after Him.
you will not be disappointed.
there may be heartache and trials…. but take heart for He has overcome the world and He will never leave you nor forsake you.
never.
not once.
and in the end… when it’s all said and done… those trials and pain will be forgotten.
for we will see the LORD face and face and be astonished.
face down. bowing. crying ‘ holy, holy, holy is the LORD ALMIGHTY’
