Come Follow Me and Leave Everything Behind

In the last couple of years, since we retired, we have been able to take long caravan trips. Packing all the things one needs to live away from home for three or four months, is always a daunting task.

It’s very difficult to know what to take, or rather, what not to take. We have limited space in the van. As we cross state borders and change seasons, the weather will change from cold to very warm, and we don’t always have access to shops in the outback.

I think about Jesus calling His disciples.

‘Come, follow me,’ Jesus said, ‘And I will send you out to fish for people.’ At once they left their nets and followed him.

Matthew 4: 19-20

I want to follow Jesus, but it takes me a long time to pack all my stuff, and to prepare the house and yard for our house-sitters. I can’t imagine just leaving everything and walking after Jesus. I would want to know His itinerary, and His packing list. I would want to know where we were going to sleep that night, and every other night, and what we were going to eat.

It’s not an option for us to follow Jesus in the same way as His first disciples did. But I think if we want to be His disciples, we are still called to put Him before our own pleasure and comfort.

Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it.  What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?  Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?  If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.”

Mark 8:34-38 (NIV)

This isn’t easy! Jesus says I must carry my cross. Not only do I think I’m not physically able to carry a cross, but I also don’t really want to!

Jesus never promised a life of ease for His followers. In fact, He said we would have trouble and persecution. And that He could use our troubles to refine us, and enable us to comfort others. He did promise that He would never leave us, no matter what happens.

Come unto me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.

Matthew 11:28-30

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I do want to serve you. But I am weak, and often unmotivated, self-seeking, and even lazy. Please forgive me. Please give me your yoke so that I can learn from You. Please give me rest from my burdens. Enable me to be burdened with the things that burden You. Strengthen my will and empower me to do what You want me to do. Remind me that everything I have, including my time, comes from You, and belongs to You. Enable me to point others to You in all I speak and do. May my thoughts be of Your will, and my paths be Your way. Thy will be done, Amen.

WHAT ABOUT YOU?

How do you go with packing for trips and holidays?

What do you think of Jesus’ invitation to “Come follow me,”?

Are there things in your life that you think you should leave behind, but can’t?