Follow Me!

A certain ruler asked him, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and mother.’[]” “All these I have kept since I was a boy,” he said. When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, FOLLOW ME.” When he heard this, he became very sad, because he was a man of great wealth. Jesus looked at him and said, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God! Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” Those who heard this asked, “Who then can be saved?” Jesus replied, “What is impossible with men is possible with God.” Peter said to him, “We have left all we had to follow you!” “I tell you the truth,” Jesus said to them, “no one who has left home or wife or brothers or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God will fail to receive many times as much in this age and, in the age to come, eternal life.” Luke 18:18-30

Follow me leave behind everything for that’s what Jesus said over and over again. If you want to follow me you must leave it all behind! Most Christians who read the story of the rich ruler are sad for him because we understand what he walked away from. He was in the presence of Jesus and was asked to give up what he held close to his heart but Jesus knew that he would not follow him with his heart devoted somewhere else. What he was asked to give up wasn’t anything more than what the fisherman were asked. They walked away from the lively hood, families, friends, and followed Jesus. Could you imagine someone passing by you and saying “Follow Me” I don’t know about you but I would have asked “Where you going?” But they denied there own lives to follow Jesus and become his disciples. Maybe we haven’t been asked to walk away from our wealth. But what have we been asked to let go of to follow Jesus?

Let’s look at a few reasons we give Jesus for not following him…

• Maybe you have been called to the mission field and Jesus is saying Follow ME, but you do not want to give up your comforts.

• Maybe you have been called to be a pastor/evangelist and Jesus is saying Follow ME but you are afraid to speak out in front of people. So you hold on to the fear instead of following Jesus.

• Maybe you have been called to do street ministry and Jesus is saying Follow ME but because you are busy building a kingdom here on earth you are unable to go.

• Maybe you have been called to be a watchman on the wall and Jesus is saying Follow ME and I will show and teach you all you need to know and you turn away in disbelief that you could be the one he is speaking to.

• Maybe you are like the rich ruler and Jesus has said sell all you have and Follow ME but you are not willing to let go to trust.

• Maybe you have been called to move forward and Jesus is saying Follow ME I am over hear but you are so busy looking back on the past successes, failures, and hurts that you fail to see what is planned ahead.

I could go on forever with the maybes but maybe you should try and putting your own scenario there. The question is “what has your heart more than Jesus?” Scripture is clear that we must deny ourselves and carry the cross Jesus carried.

And anyone who does not take his cross and FOLLOW ME is not worthy of me Matthew 10:38

Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and FOLLOW ME. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done. I tell you the truth, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.” Matthew 16:24-28

He said to another man, “FOLLOW ME.” But the man replied, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” Luke 9:59 (Book 0:00)

Still another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say good-by to my family.” Jesus replied, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.” Luke 9:61

And anyone who does not carry his cross and FOLLOW ME cannot be my disciple. Luke 14:27 (Book 0:00)

I believe many times Jesus is saying to his people FOLLOW ME but we have decided that where he wants us to go is not where we want to go! If you can say that is you then let me use an abbreviation used by many kids today and clue you in on what that would be “FYI” (for your info) that would fall into the category of rebellion and disobedience! When we fail to follow him then we are left dry and empty. God isn’t interested in our excuses, he isn’t interested in our laziness, and he isn’t interested in our disobedience. He is interested in us following him and obeying him.

I pray we find ourselves like the disciples who left it all to follow Jesus. And for those who say Jesus didn’t mean it how it was said I say to you YES HE DID OR HE WOULDN’T HAVE SAID IT!!!. His word is living truth and when he said leave everything (that would be what keeps you from him), deny yourself, pick up the cross and “Follow Him” He meant what he said if we chose to not follow him than we are not fit to be his disciples.

Dear Jesus,
Forgive me for with holding my gifts, talents, and the truth you have taught me because of my fear. I will surrender and follow you where you lead this time I will submit to your will and lean on your understanding and not on my own understanding. I trust the path you have set out for me. I will Follow You not because you ask me to but because I surrender my life to you. My deepest prayer is that you will continue to search me oh Lord and know my deepest thoughts that you will continue to create in me a new heart. Father I pray for a heart that is not divided between you and my desires, but a heart that is undivided standing firm in the knowledge of the one in whom I have chosen to follow! I love you, Jesus my Lord and Savior.