“Come, Follow Me”

“One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” (Mark 10:21)

When we are saved we are put onto the road of sanctification, so that we may be discipled by Christ through time in His word and time with Him in prayer. His word instructs us and is primarily how we hear from God. One of the lessons on the discipleship road is to have no other Gods above Him. (Exodus 20:3)

In the New Testament we see Christ expanding on this in various places when he spoke with people who wanted to follow Him but needed to count the cost of that commitment. When it came to the rich young ruler in Mark 10:17-22 Christ was able to see in his heart what it was that would distract that young man from a unwavering walk with Him. For that man it was his riches. We all have riches of one kind or another that can keep our focus on the world and not on the kingdom.

Christ sounded harsh when he told the young man to go and give up all his possessions. For each of us it may be recognizing a relationship with something or someone that we place higher in our lives than we ought to. Jesus was not telling us not to have any human relationships, but to make sure they are in the proper perspective. Christ is always to be first in our hearts and in our minds with our focus on Him directing our steps.

One of the biggest “gods” we can have that distracts us is ourselves. The god of self is reigning rampant in our society today. The body of Christ isn’t immune to this kind of infection – we live in sinful bodies in a sinful world, so the god of self is one of the most important tools the enemy uses. Other people and things may come and go in our life but we are always with ourselves! What’s that old saying – “Wherever you go, there you are!”

We have to push aside ourselves and make Christ first in all we do, which starts with making Him first in our minds. It is a hard habit and for me one of the most important steps is to start each day with time in the Word, allowing it to coat my mind. I have no idea what awaits me in these next 24 hours, but the God does and the Holy Spirit will work through my time in the Word today to prepare my soul. The daily reading of his word are like coats of paint on my soul that over time build up a protection against the world and against my own worst enemy – myself.

Like a squirrel storing up nuts for winter, I strive with my daily devotional time in the Word as storing up His Word for when it’s needed.

“I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.” (Psalm 119:11)