Then Peter began to say to Him, “See, we have left all and followed You.” Mark 10:28
There are times in life in which a person must leave others behind and go off to do something different. This is commonly done when one graduates high school and goes off to college or gets married. Life changes for the person, because of what is left behind and the new things that are in front making it difficult or impossible for a person to go back to the old ways.
Mark records Peter telling Jesus that they had left everything to follow Him.
Leaving everything that one knows behind to go forward to something else is difficult for many people. People like to hold on to what they know and what is common to themselves. Change brings in a lot of hardship, loss and sadness at the loss of the familiar.
While leaving things behind it can also bring about joy and satisfaction in the end. Leaving to go to college can open doors for new careers and abilities. Getting married brings the joy of having a partner to spend life together.
Every person who chooses to follow Jesus must be willing to leave all behind and follow Him. This leaving may include old habits, sinful ways, friends, family, dreams, careers and more. At first this may be painful, but in the end, it has a greater value.
Following Jesus brings about things that are greater than anything this world has to offer. Peace that passes understanding fills a person’s life. Purpose in life in given. Joy that the world does not have is found. Hope for the future in provided, and much more.
The world does not know these things, nor can the world offer them. Leaving all to follow Jesus is worth it.
Have there been times in which you had to leave all to move on to something different? In the same way you left all before, you must be willing to leave your past behind and move forward to follow Jesus. Give up everything to follow Him and see what great things He has in store for you. You will gain much more by leaving your past behind to follow Him than you will have in continuing to follow the ways of this world.
What have you given up to follow Jesus?
Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Lord and Savior; that you will follow Jesus with your whole life; that you will be willing to leave all behind in order to follow Jesus; and that God will reveal the blessings of following Jesus.
Photo by Mantas Hesthaven on Unsplash
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