Leaving Everything Behind

February 20

(Luke 5:28 NIV) “… and Levi got up, left everything and followed him.”

(Luke 5:11 NIV) “So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.”

(Luke 14:33 NIV) “In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple.”

Salvation is the gift of God -- it comes by grace through faith. We cannot buy it, but being a disciple will cost you everything you have. Peter, James, John, and Andrew left their fishing business to follow Jesus. Now Levi (Matthew) leaves his lucrative tax table behind to become a disciple. These men left everything to follow the Lord. The call has not changed. Jesus is still calling disciples. He still calls us to leave everything behind and follow Him. What are you clinging to that holds you back? It can be something good, or it can be something bad. Perhaps it is a lifestyle, a lover, a habit, or a job. Whatever it is, you must surrender it. If you refuse to give it up, you cannot be His disciple. Jesus calls us to become someone new… someone different. Will you respond like Levi did, or will you make excuses? What will your answer be? -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day