***
Gospel: Mark 10: 28-31
Peter began to say to Jesus,
‘We have given up everything and followed you.”
Jesus said, “Amen, I say to you,
there is no one who has given up house or brothers or sisters
or mother or father or children or lands
for my sake and for the sake of the Gospel
who will not receive a hundred times more now in this present age:
houses and brothers and sisters
and mothers and children and lands,
with persecutions, and eternal life in the age to come.
But many that are first will be last, and the last will be first.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
***
***
“Master, we have given up everything and followed you.”
***
On the surface, Peter’s right.
Unlike the rich young man, who walks away from Jesus “sad, for he had many possessions,” Peter and the others have left their boats, their homes, even their families, in order to follow Jesus.
That’s a huge sacrifice.
But the Christian journey – yours and mine – comes at more than a physical cost; we also must part with things we carry in our heart.
***
For example, Peter and the others are still journeying with their pride.
Just a few verses prior, Jesus catches them arguing over who is the greatest. They’re interested in titles and seats of honor, not in suffering or persecution.
Although they’ve left everything behind physically, they’re still a work in progress spiritually.
Discipleship in that sense is a total mind, body, soul commitment.
***
What have I left behind in order to follow the Lord? Or what do I still need to part with? Perhaps fear, pride, my desire for control, my ego?
***
“Master, we have left everything behind to follow you.”
Even if that’s the case, the challenge each day is to pick nothing “up” – to remain totally committed to Christ in mind, body, and spirit.
What might that look like for me today?
***
***
Image credits: (1) Pinterest (2) Reading Acts, WordPress (3) Pinterest
Loving God and following the Lord is total commitment. When we are serious, the sacrifice of giving up the baggage becomes real joy.
Thank you for the message