Follow me.

Scripture:

Mark 10: 21 Jesus looked at him and loved him. "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."

Matthew 4: 18-20 As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, He saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. "Come, follow me", Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of me." And at once they left their nets and followed Him...."

Matthew 16: 24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me."

When we visit my daughter, Melanie, in Lawrence, Kansas, we love to worship with her at Velocity. The pastor there has always had meaningful messages, and his message in June was no exception. His message was entitled "Full" and challenged us all to make time for the most important things. Several times he said, "It's not about rejection. It's about protection. It's about saying "no" to good things, so you can say "yes" to great things." Sometimes it's about protecting time for family, or quiet, or relationships. Sometimes it's about protecting time for Jesus.

In our church's study of Bob Goff's book "Love Does", he uses the three scripture passages above to remind us that when Jesus says 'follow me', He realizes there is a cost involved. Sometimes we may have to leave behind a livelihood, or a relationship, or our treasures. Sometimes it's our comfort zone, our personal time, or our privacy. These are all fine things, but to really follow Jesus in our lives, not just acknowledge him in our minds, requires that choices are made. Sometimes we, like the rich ruler in the Mark passage, we think the cost is just too great and we walk away. Our time, our finances, our family, our _____, won't allow it. But I'm reminded of the sermon message - sometimes we need to say "no" to good things in order to say "yes" to great things.

The God who called us and wants the best for us will not leave us in need when we give ourselves to him.

Sometimes, in order to follow Jesus, we have to say "no" to something good so you can say "yes" to something great.

Prayer: Dear Jesus, you give us all the good things in our lives. And sometimes we hold onto these good things so tightly that we miss the opportunity to seek great things in your name. Help us to see these times for what they are, so we don't miss the beautiful chances we have to glorify you. Amen

Contributed by Lori Snyder-Sloan