"And as soon as they landed, they left everything and followed Jesus." (Luke 5:11)
The verse above came from the radical actions of the first ever disciples Jesus called; Simon Peter, James and John. These men were ordinary men who fished for a living, one day they had an encounter with Jesus, Jesus gave them an invitation to come follow him and they gave up EVERYTHING for Him. Can you imagine, you're fishing, this is your business, your livelihood, everyone in town know that you are a fishermen and during your lunchtime at noon you have an encounter with Jesus and you give up EVERYTHING. One o'clock passes, Three o'clock passes, now it's getting to the end of the workday. Your business partners starts asking people "Hey, did you see Peter? He went to lunch since noon. I haven't seen him." Days later, someone tells them "Oh, Peter? That guy left everything to follow Jesus." How radical is that? Whenever I read that verse, I think something AWESOME must have happened that Peter, James and John saw it worth it all to forsake everything to follow God. I mean the Scripture said, as soon as they landed they left everything. Now, that's radical!
But here's another story, a true story that happened during Jesus' ministry.
One day on the road to Jerusalem, a rich man came to Jesus addressed Him as "Good Teacher" and asked a question I think we all would ask Jesus during His earthly ministry.
"Good Teacher, you are talking about this Kingdom. The Kingdom of Heaven you say? You say, it's near, it's here. You keep preaching there's joy, peace, rest, safety in this Kingdom and most of all eternal life. How can I inherit this internal life?" (My paraphrase of Mark 10:17)
Very good question to ask. He was seeking.
I think it's so cool, that Jesus already knew the answer but He wanted the young man to come around to His own answer and face the issue that was in his heart. So Jesus humored him. Jesus started listing all the laws that since birth the Jews follow that he knew this man also followed; "honor your father and mother" "thou shalt not steal"..... After Jesus listed those, I bet the rich young ruler must have been doing the happy dance in his mind thinking, "I'm so in! I've kept all those commandments!" Like many of us, the rich young ruler had all the rules down pact but I doubt if his heart was really engaged in the things he was doing for the sake of God and God's Kingdom .
Before the rich man can conclude his happy dance and go on his merry way, Jesus answered him, "Anh Anh Anh, not so fast my boy. There's still one thing you have not done."
The rich man was probably going over the many many laws thinking "Well, maybe I must have missed one." but Jesus interrupts his thoughts again. Ready for this? He tells the man to Go and sell his possessions and give the money to the poor and he will have treasure in heaven. Then come follow me. (Mark 10:21)
And here's where the rubber meets the road, where theology meets experience, where the difference between religion/speech and relationship/actions sticks out like a sore thumb.
Earlier I said, the rich man was seeking which was a good thing. But the answer he got required drastic changes in his life, he didn't like that so much.
So what did he do? I would imagine he had a million thought passed through his mind about the enormous step Jesus told him to take. Somehow, this man felt that 'one thing' that Jesus asked for he could not part with, he 'needed' it, it was something that was part of his comfort zone, something that was part of his identity, his reputation (the story did start off saying he was a 'rich' man) that was identity. If he gave up his worldly wealth, would he still be seen around town as the rich man? or would he be known as the-fool-who-give-up-all-his-riches-to-follow-Jesus-guy. His identity and comfort zone was on the line. Little did he know he would have gain everything if he followed Christ.
PAUSE
Now many many people have taken this Scripture (Mark 10:21) out of context saying God wants all of us to give away everything. Whoo Hoo! Ummm... No. Not true. Only if He ask you to and He will definitely ask you to give your riches away if your riches have you and prevents you from following Him.
Let's Keep Going!
So my question is what is that one thing that you are not willing to part with to fully follow Christ. Because that is your idol in your heart. You've done everything else. You honored your father and mother, you don't steal, you don't gossip, but what is that one thing? We all have one.
Me? I have many. I've been saved for three years now. I thought when I was saved, I laid everything down at the altar and I did. But as I went though my growth process/journey with Jesus, I realized "Hey! This is really a relationship" and we have our ups and downs and whenever we have our downs where I would doubt God or be hesitant in trusting him I would pick up those things that I have laid down at the altar three years ago. My comfort zones, what I am used to and familiar with, my barriers, my walls that I'm so used to putting up instead of trusting. So yes, I have many one thing(s) that I need to continually lay down, cast down, willingly give up ownership of, totally destroy for the sake of following Jesus forever.
As we know the end of the rich young man's story was he walked away, (BIG SAD FACE) he was not willing to give up or give in to Jesus that one thing because "he had many possessions." (v. 22)
The cool thing about this story is, I think if the rich young man on his way home said, 'You know what forget this, I'm going to do it. I want Jesus more than my wealth." and he ran and found Jesus again, I believe Jesus' offer would still be standing. That's how much Jesus loves us. He is a God of second, third, three million chances. Why? Because we need it! and He loves us so much. His heart is that NONE should perish (John 3:16)
Let me stop here and say when I was young-er (cough, cough) (I'm only 23), but when I was teenager around 14, 15 where I started knowing I had to make a decision about following God wholeheartedly or not. I thought to myself, "I will! BUT there's always tomorrow right? I want to enjoy what I feel like doing right now before I start doing what he wants me to do." I even went as far as to pick the 'right' age to be really saved. Me and my friends use to say, "We'll have fun now, we're still young right? God will let us in. Or we'll just pray and receive Christ when we are just about to die." or "I'll get serious about God when I reach 25, that's a good age to settle down. You know take God serious after I've had all my fun." Like I said I'm 23 years old, I got saved at 20, now who would have thought of that! God is good. AND THAT IS A BIG PERVERTED LIE FROM THE DEVIL >> THAT GOD IS BORING AND THE DEVIL IS FUN> SO FUN THAT YOU GO TO HELL? I DON"T THINK SO. JESUS IT"S WHERE HE"S AT!
Anywhoooo... (lol)
I say all this to say, if you are in your right mind and you are not a toddler and you know right from wrong and you are reading this post (heehee). ONE DAY, you will have to answer to God. We will ALL have to answer to him. He'll say "I sent my Son. Everything was done for you to be with me. Why did you reject Me?" Isn't that sad? And unfortunately, that question/invitation that Jesus posed to the rich man and to all us will no longer be available on that day. So do it NOW!. Answer to Jesus TODAY!. Surrender to Him today. Don't let friends, family members or any other persons stop you from being with Jesus ALL THE WAY.
I promise you will never be the same.
Very good question to ask. He was seeking.
I think it's so cool, that Jesus already knew the answer but He wanted the young man to come around to His own answer and face the issue that was in his heart. So Jesus humored him. Jesus started listing all the laws that since birth the Jews follow that he knew this man also followed; "honor your father and mother" "thou shalt not steal"..... After Jesus listed those, I bet the rich young ruler must have been doing the happy dance in his mind thinking, "I'm so in! I've kept all those commandments!" Like many of us, the rich young ruler had all the rules down pact but I doubt if his heart was really engaged in the things he was doing for the sake of God and God's Kingdom .
Before the rich man can conclude his happy dance and go on his merry way, Jesus answered him, "Anh Anh Anh, not so fast my boy. There's still one thing you have not done."
The rich man was probably going over the many many laws thinking "Well, maybe I must have missed one." but Jesus interrupts his thoughts again. Ready for this? He tells the man to Go and sell his possessions and give the money to the poor and he will have treasure in heaven. Then come follow me. (Mark 10:21)
 |
| "Excuse me Jesus, what?" |
And here's where the rubber meets the road, where theology meets experience, where the difference between religion/speech and relationship/actions sticks out like a sore thumb.
Earlier I said, the rich man was seeking which was a good thing. But the answer he got required drastic changes in his life, he didn't like that so much.
So what did he do? I would imagine he had a million thought passed through his mind about the enormous step Jesus told him to take. Somehow, this man felt that 'one thing' that Jesus asked for he could not part with, he 'needed' it, it was something that was part of his comfort zone, something that was part of his identity, his reputation (the story did start off saying he was a 'rich' man) that was identity. If he gave up his worldly wealth, would he still be seen around town as the rich man? or would he be known as the-fool-who-give-up-all-his-riches-to-follow-Jesus-guy. His identity and comfort zone was on the line. Little did he know he would have gain everything if he followed Christ.
PAUSE
Now many many people have taken this Scripture (Mark 10:21) out of context saying God wants all of us to give away everything. Whoo Hoo! Ummm... No. Not true. Only if He ask you to and He will definitely ask you to give your riches away if your riches have you and prevents you from following Him.
Let's Keep Going!
So my question is what is that one thing that you are not willing to part with to fully follow Christ. Because that is your idol in your heart. You've done everything else. You honored your father and mother, you don't steal, you don't gossip, but what is that one thing? We all have one.
Me? I have many. I've been saved for three years now. I thought when I was saved, I laid everything down at the altar and I did. But as I went though my growth process/journey with Jesus, I realized "Hey! This is really a relationship" and we have our ups and downs and whenever we have our downs where I would doubt God or be hesitant in trusting him I would pick up those things that I have laid down at the altar three years ago. My comfort zones, what I am used to and familiar with, my barriers, my walls that I'm so used to putting up instead of trusting. So yes, I have many one thing(s) that I need to continually lay down, cast down, willingly give up ownership of, totally destroy for the sake of following Jesus forever.
As we know the end of the rich young man's story was he walked away, (BIG SAD FACE) he was not willing to give up or give in to Jesus that one thing because "he had many possessions." (v. 22)
The cool thing about this story is, I think if the rich young man on his way home said, 'You know what forget this, I'm going to do it. I want Jesus more than my wealth." and he ran and found Jesus again, I believe Jesus' offer would still be standing. That's how much Jesus loves us. He is a God of second, third, three million chances. Why? Because we need it! and He loves us so much. His heart is that NONE should perish (John 3:16)
Let me stop here and say when I was young-er (cough, cough) (I'm only 23), but when I was teenager around 14, 15 where I started knowing I had to make a decision about following God wholeheartedly or not. I thought to myself, "I will! BUT there's always tomorrow right? I want to enjoy what I feel like doing right now before I start doing what he wants me to do." I even went as far as to pick the 'right' age to be really saved. Me and my friends use to say, "We'll have fun now, we're still young right? God will let us in. Or we'll just pray and receive Christ when we are just about to die." or "I'll get serious about God when I reach 25, that's a good age to settle down. You know take God serious after I've had all my fun." Like I said I'm 23 years old, I got saved at 20, now who would have thought of that! God is good. AND THAT IS A BIG PERVERTED LIE FROM THE DEVIL >> THAT GOD IS BORING AND THE DEVIL IS FUN> SO FUN THAT YOU GO TO HELL? I DON"T THINK SO. JESUS IT"S WHERE HE"S AT!
Anywhoooo... (lol)
I say all this to say, if you are in your right mind and you are not a toddler and you know right from wrong and you are reading this post (heehee). ONE DAY, you will have to answer to God. We will ALL have to answer to him. He'll say "I sent my Son. Everything was done for you to be with me. Why did you reject Me?" Isn't that sad? And unfortunately, that question/invitation that Jesus posed to the rich man and to all us will no longer be available on that day. So do it NOW!. Answer to Jesus TODAY!. Surrender to Him today. Don't let friends, family members or any other persons stop you from being with Jesus ALL THE WAY.
AWESOME article. Was definitely a friendly reminder to CONSTANTLY let go of those "One things" that everyday TRYS to get in the way. Keep them coming girl, ChickaOooww ;)
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