Do you give all to follow Jesus? We sing songs in Church like "I Surrender All" and "Wherever He Leads I'll Go", yet do we really mean the words of our songs? These are questions I have been asking of myself and of others for a few years now. Some people take the challenge to really look at their walks with Christ and ask the difficult questions. Others simply get upset and refuse to examine their lives; all the while insisting that they are living within the will of God. However, we cannot be in the will of God unless we are in total surrender to Jesus as our Master.
Matthew 8:18-22 describes people who said they wanted to follow Jesus. They were willing to make a verbal commitment. Then Jesus reveals the cost of discipleship. He told one man - you can expect to be homeless. To another He said: "Follow Me, and let the dead bury their own dead" (Matthew 8:22). This was a man that indicated that he would follow Jesus but first wanted to bury his father. Would Jesus really not allow this man to bury his own father? Would Jesus really say that we are to put following Him above family responsibilities?
At this point it is important to keep a few things in perspective: (1) Jesus gave all to provide salvation, (2) Jesus gives salvation freely - Ephesians 2 specifically says it is grace that saves us through faith, and (3) Jesus simply says: "Follow Me". Simple instructions. Simple, right? Yes!!! It is all about Him! Anything that discipleship costs us is minor in comparison to what Jesus has given us. There is nothing is the world worth more than knowing Him for salvation and following Him in obedience.
Praying today for:
(1) the Victory community of Lake O' the Pines
(2) the state of Colorado
(3) the nation of Faeroe Islands
(4) the continent of Asia
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