July 2, 2022

Follow Me

Then 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

You can’t take it with you!  Have you ever heard that old saying before?  When you die and leave this world, all the things you have accumulated have to stay here.  It cannot go with you into the next life.  That thought doesn’t disturb me much, but some people put their entire life in the security of having things here in this world.  Don’t get me wrong, I do like to be comfortable, but I am fully content to leave behind material things to chase after the plans and purpose God has for my life.

In the reading today, there was a young man that came to Jesus.  Obviously concerned about what was going to happen when he died.  He was looking for an eternal life inheritance, but he never expected to hear what Jesus told him was required for securing it.  Jesus told him that the one thing he needed to do that he currently wasn’t doing is get rid of all his “stuff” and follow Jesus.  Follow Jesus’ way of doing things and follow Jesus’ plan for life.

The young man gave up hope and was very sad because he had a great amount of possessions.  He didn’t consider the benefit and the honor it would have been to become a part of Jesus’ ministry. He could not imagine a life without comfort and with self-sacrifice for others.  He had the greatest invitation and opportunity to be with Jesus up close and personal while He walked on the earth but was blinded by the love he had for the things of this world.

That invitation is available to you still today!  The door is always open to follow Jesus.  In fact, He is waiting for you to choose the security of eternal life with Him over the collateral of the physical world you live in.  Make the choice today to put Him in first place in your life and put the worldly possessions behind and follow Him.

Today I want to encourage you to receive His gift of salvation if you have not turned your life over to Him yet. Begin a personal relationship with Him by talking with Him daily and learning about His ways and His love for you and all people. Start that conversation now by praying a prayer from your heart like this: _{Jesus, I want to follow you! I invite you into my life today to lead me in Your perfect path and plan! Empower me today to know you more and give me Your grace to walk out the destiny you have planned for my life before the world came into existence.} Keep the conversation going and get wisdom from Him about every area of your life. Your life will change and it will be for so much better.

Today’s scripture reading: Mark 10:17-22

17 Now as He was going out on the road, one came running, knelt before Him, and asked Him, “Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?”

18 So Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. 

19 You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery,’ ‘Do not murder,’ ‘Do not steal,’ ‘Do not bear false witness,’ ‘Do not defraud,’ ‘Honor your father and your mother.’ ”

20 And he answered and said to Him, “Teacher, all these things I have kept from my youth.”

21 Then 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.”

22 But he was sad at this word, and went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.