What did you have to give up to follow Jesus?


English: Jesus appears to the disciples (water...

English: Jesus appears to the disciples (watercolour) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

 

Every person who desires to follow Jesus must give up something. It is the basic requirement one has to meet before embarking on the Christian journey. It is the initiation period and a test of commitment. The twelve disciples did. Even though, they were mostly fishermen of extremely modest means, they gave up all they had–family and livelihood to follow Jesus. Nevertheless, following Jesus takes more than just giving up something which we hold near and dear to our hearts.. It takes great sacrifice and unshakable commitment and steadfastness.

 

 

Not everybody who wish to follow Jesus has it in him, or her (at least in the initial stages)to accept the challenge Jesus issues in Luke 9:23: “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow me”. The disciples no doubt had it in them, but I am sure it was just as difficult for them as it is for modern days people who are striving to follow Jesus. Regardless, they were not the only ones. There are countless others, including, perhaps you, and Saul of Tarsus, who became Paul after his conversion. Paul was not a disciple. Still, he did not hesitate to give up his job as a tax collector, as well as his position as a member of the ruling council to help spread the gospel of Jesus Christ.

 

 

 

In the world, and in the society in which we live, there are many people who identify themselves as followers of Jesus, yet when asked to identify that which they have given up to follow Jesus, they cannot give a coherent answer. Young Moriah Peters who has had to make life changing decisions twice in her short life. In high School, she found herself at a crossroad where she needed to choose Jesus and stay pure or choose the crowd and be cool. She did the right thing and choose Jesus. Peters would soon find herself at another crossroad. This time she needed to decide whether to go to college to fulfill her dreams to become a lawyer or to pursue a music career, singing for Jesus. She chose the latter.

 

14 comments

  1. I did not give up anything to become a child of God. There was absolutely NOTHING I could give to God in exchange for my salvation. He took me as I was, dead in sin, hopeless, guilty, condemned, and without excuse. HE gave me faith to believe. HE gave me new life. HE gave me Himself. He made me His blood-bought, adopted child, His joint-heir with Christ, secure in Him for all eternity.

    Now, to become a disciple of Christ is another thing. Jesus said that to become His disciple, I had to take up my cross. Anyone hearing those words at that time knew EXACTLY what He meant. Someone who took up a cross was on the way to death, with no hope of escape. He was already reckoned as dead.

    In order to become a disciple of Christ, I had to surrender the right to live my own life. I had to count myself as dead to self and self desires. Does that sound negative? Does that sound restrictive? I guess so, but in REALITY it is freedom. My amazing triune God handles my life much better than I could, and He showers me with the abundance of His blessings, peace and joy. Sure, there are still problems, but even in these, He is with me, and He uses them to teach me and to ‘grow’ me.

    As Spurgeon said: You can never out-give God, because God always uses a bigger shovel!

    What an amazing God!

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  2. Amen Bro. Noel:
    This is a great question that every Believer should ask themselves. There is nothing in this physical world that I would not give up to follow Christ!
    Minister Glenda

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    1. Thanks so much for your comment Minister Glenda. Some of us missed the point. We do not realize that the old man cannot serve God. There has to be a transformation in attitude and thought. That is the reason the Scripture tells us the following: “If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17).

      I profoundly appreciate your visit. God blesses.

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  5. Awesome post Noel. And so thought provoking for me….
    I walked away from a career that was not pleasing to God, in the process I lost my home and much else. I have gained a peace that passes understanding, a love that is as deep as the oceans and eternity with my Father in heaven. Wouldn’t have it any other way! 😀

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  7. I had to give up a lot, but don’t regret one second of it. I was a homosexual and while I still have love for those in my past, I had to leave certain friends behind. That lifestyle is not what I want anymore.

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