What Does it Take to Follow Jesus?
Bible Verse: Luke 14:33 (NIV)
“In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples.”
Reflection and Challenge
Does God really mean that young children be left orphans, old parents and grandparents abandoned by their able children, husbands and wives part ways, all possessions big and small deserted, and everyone else preaching the Gospel bare-footed and naked? Certainly not!
Did not our heavenly Father send Jesus to give up everything including His very own life so we may be delivered, live in peace and live life at its fullest (John 10:10)? How then can He just ask us to give up all these that He has freely given?
Jesus here is showing what it would take to be His real disciples. He has bought us with His own precious life. This makes following Him as a disciple in the making, not a cheap stuff that can be easily grabbed by anyone from the drive-through of famous fast food chains with just a few coins. Truly following Jesus will not be a walk in the park either. His words meant that in order to follow Him, we must learn to let go of our attachment from everything we have.
God is talking about allegiance and loyalty because where your treasure is, there your heart will be also (Matthew 6:21). Although He does not mean to take away from us everything we have instantly, we must always be willing to give up anything if we are to choose between following Him or this world. This makes up a true and a loyal disciple.
Perhaps, many rich or even not so rich “Christians” are giving two thumbs up when someone says that this verse should not be taken literally. They would be jumping with a sigh of relief. But, what if God says it should? What would your stand be?
4 Replies to “What Does it Take to Follow Jesus?”
What a beautiful message.
I love the music “No Turning back.” It’s something that moves me. For some people, it takes a lot to follow Jesus, and for others it’s so simple. I have to make a decision to only stop following Jesus if He abandons me (which I know for sure He’ll never do). But if He’s still with me, and as long He’s still with me I will follow Him. I want to be Jesus’ real disciple like you said. I want to keep following Him with a pure and sincere heart.
As you said also, “following Jesus will not be a walk in the park,” but is having a sacrifice, love and also tribulation. The Devil is after those that Jesus loves and love Jesus.
Thank you for writing this blog, may God bless you,
Telma
Hi Telma!
Thank you for your kind words.
Yes, you are absolutely correct. God will never leave us and He is always with us wherever we go (Joshua 1:9). Sometimes people go astray and wander but God is faithful. Just like the shepherd in the parable (Matt 18:12-14), our Shepherd will leave the ninety nine sheep to search for the lost one.
The heavens rejoice in your decision to follow Jesus and with your desire to be His real disciple. May God be with you always!
Impressive, thought-provoking question. What if we have to give up everything? I believe my feelings about it will depend on my situation at that given moment. It would be difficult to let go of everything now after I’ve worked so hard to get where I am. If it were asked of me at a time when I’m living in an upsetting situation I think it would be much easier to let go. Thank you for this eye-opening article.
Hi Paul!
Thanks a lot for taking time to read and drop by. And thanks too, for sharing your honest insight. Not many people will share their genuine thought especially when it comes to giving-up something you really worked hard for.
Of course, God is not a cruel God. He most importantly looks into the desires and priorities of our heart. We must seek the matters of His kingdom and righteousness first (Matt 6:33). He will not take away from you the things that you worked hard for unless it is the only way to accomplish His perfect will in your life. This is very hard for us human to accept and understand unless we have come to the renewing of our mind (Rom 12:2) wherein at that moment there will be no more struggle. Until then, being a new creation (2 Cor 5:17), let us continue to seek His perfect will and ask for a change in heart and mind from glory to glory.
God bless you, Paul!