Leave It Behind

Imagine if you will that you are standing at the beginning of the #NarrowRoad that Jesus calls us all to walk and that before you begin your journey the Savior himself stands before you. You ask what you need to do if you want to be a true Christ-follower, wondering what his advice will be. Will he want you to go to church more? Will he want you to pray more? Will he command that you memorized more scripture? What is the first thing Jesus will ask of you as you become his disciple? And then you realize you don't have to guess. This has happened before...

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 lake, for they were fishermen. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.”  At once they left their nets and followed him. Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them, and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.  -Matthew 4:18-22 (NIV)

Peter and Andrew left their nets and careers behind to follow Jesus. James and John left their boat and their father. Modern Christians spend far too much time worrying what sorts of attributes we need to take with us on our spiritual journey, when perhaps the first question needs to be what must we leave behind? What are the things in our lives that are receiving priority over the risen Savior? What are the things in our lives that become excess baggage on the #NarrowRoad? 

Tomorrow is Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent. My challenge to myself and to all of you is the same as always in this season of the year. If you are going to "give up" something for Lent. make certain it is something you never intend to take back. Don't give up soda, give up resentment. Don't give up chocolate, give up racism. Give up something that stands between you and Jesus. And then leave it behind. The #NarrowRoad awaits...

Because of Jesus,