Leaving It Behind! (2 of 2)

A young man came to Jesus with a question regarding INHERITING eternal life. Is there any better INHERITANCE than that? However, this young man was holding on to that which he was not ready to release. There was one specific area in his life where he was lacking ( Mark 10:27); something Jesus could see he was not yet ready to give up to follow Him. After this young man walked away, Jesus went on to point out the difficulty worldly wealth presented with regard to entrance into the kingdom. Since worldly possessions (or an attachment to them) present such a challenge, they must be kept in proper perspective.

Sometimes, in an effort to hold on to certain things, we stand the chance of missing out on what could have been. The allure of possessions or position in this world can easily cloud our judgment regarding what is most important to retain and what is best released.

Note Peter’s response to the Lord’s teaching and the blessing our Lord drew attention to.
“(28) Peter began to say to him, ‘See, WE HAVE LEFT EVERYTHING AND FOLLOWED YOU.’ (29) Jesus said, ‘Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, (30) who will not RECEIVE A HUNDREDFOLD NOW IN THIS TIME, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, WITH PERSECUTIONS, AND in the age to come ETERNAL LIFE.’” ( Mark 10:28-30 ESV)

It is easy to see what was most important to Peter. At this point he still needed to grow in his faith, but he had in fact left behind his fishing career and everything else in accepting Jesus’ calling to become a fisher of men. ( Matthew 4:18-20) The other disciples had done likewise.

Too much of a grasp on our possessions can hinder our walk with Christ.
There are also relationships which, if not kept in perspective, may hamper our spiritual progress. As we have accepted His calling, may He remain the Lord of our whole life!

Have a great day NOT LETTING THINGS GET IN THE WAY!
Carl

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