Forsaking All to Follow the Lord Jesus Christ
There is always that one thing you, as an individual, must give up for the kingdom of God.
For the rich young ruler, it was wealth (Matthew 19:16-22). He kept all the commandments but loved his money. Jesus told him he had to give it all away to the poor to follow him, and he could not. Although righteous in all other ways, money was his idol.
“Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.” Matthew 19:16-22
Paul calls it the besetting sin. He says we must lay aside every weight and the sin that does so easily BESET us. What is that sin for you?
“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight and the sin which doth so easily beset (ensnare) us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us.” Hebrews 12:1
Remember, you may be righteous in all other ways, but that one sin will prevent you from entering heaven. James says whoever offends in one offends in all (James 2:10).
For some, it is pride.
For some, it is malice.
For some, it is unforgiveness of one person.
For some, it is anger.
For some, it is vanity, makeup, and worldly adornment.
For some, it is dishonoring parents.
For some, it is bitterness.
For some, it is adultery and adulterous marriages.
For some, it is stealing your employer’s time and resources.
For some, it is bribery.
For some, it is a lack of submission to their husbands.
For some, it is alcohol.
For some, it is football.
For some, it is television.
For some, it is hypocrisy.
For some, it is self-righteousness.
For some, it is not tithing.
For some, it is lying and exaggeration.
For some, it is gossip and tale-bearing.
For some, it is looking down on others.
Whatever it is, only the Holy Spirit can reveal this to us, and so we must ask him as David the beloved prayed. “Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my thoughts; and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” Psalm 139:23-24
We should never presume to be holy by our own estimation or be wise in our own eyes. Only the Lord truly knows us. The heart is very prone to self-deception. Only God knows the heart, and he is the only one just enough to try us.
And we too must constantly examine ourselves to see if we are still in the faith.
“Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?— unless indeed you are disqualified.” 2 Corinthians 13:5
Presumptuous is dangerous. We must never presume on the grace and mercy of God but humble ourselves before Him, who shall judge us without partiality.
“Keep back Your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me. Then I shall be blameless, and I shall be innocent of great transgression.” Psalms 19:13
It is said of Peter, Andrew, James, and John that they forsook ALL and followed Jesus. We too must do likewise.
“So when they had brought their boats to land, they forsook all and followed Him.” Luke 5:11
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Have you given your life to Jesus Christ to be your Lord and Savior? He loves us so much that he, our creator, left heaven and came to earth, died for us on the cross, taking our sins upon him so that we may be forgiven and receive his righteousness. He conquered death by rising from the dead and made a way for us who were dead in sin to be reconciled back to the Father (God). What’s more, he has prepared a wonderful home for us in Heaven, where those who love him and obey him will spend eternity with him. Learn more here about how to be born again and have eternal life after this brief life on earth.
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