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.” Mark 10:21
A man came up to Jesus wanting to know what it takes to get eternal life. After telling him to obey all of the commandments, He then tells him to sell everything and follow Him.
People often look at the idea of the man having to sell everything, but forget about the second part of following Jesus. Being poor does not mean a person is following Jesus. Wealth does not guarantee that a person is following or not following Jesus.
In order for a person to follow Jesus, he must put Jesus first above everything else in this life. Many people are more concerned about self and provision, then they are about following Jesus. Jesus will not lead any person into sin or selfishness. His entire focus is on saving every person in this world and pleasing His Father.
Getting eternal life is more than just saying a simple ‘sinner’s prayer.’ It is living a life that is pleasing to God. It is living life in the same way Jesus lived His.
Admission of sin, repenting of that sin and accepting what Jesus has done is only the first steps of following Him. Following Jesus means doing what He would do, saying what He would say and carrying out His mission in this world.
In order to do that, many people must give up something in their life. In this verse, the man had to give up great wealth. His wealth would be a great distraction to following Jesus.
As you go through this life, you must be willing to give up anything and everything that distracts you from following Jesus. You must live your life in a way that you can hear and see what God is doing at all times, so that you can be following Him and doing those things as well.
Do you see when Jesus makes a turn in the road? Or when He suddenly stops for a moment?
If you do not see those things, maybe there is something distracting you from following Him. Remove those things and keep your eyes on Him. In this way you will gain eternal life. Follow Jesus with all your life.
I pray today that you will be a servant of Jesus; that you will turn from all things of this world to follow Him; that you will hear His directions for your life; and that you will be faithful to God with all of your life.
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