Leaving

by

Ruth 2:11 What Will You Leave Behind?

Boaz replied, “I’ve been told all about what you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband–how you left your father and mother and your homeland and came to live with a people you did not know.” Ruth 2:11

Stepping out into the unknown is very difficult for many people. It not only requires a step of faith, but also a step away from the familiar and safe and known place.

Sometimes it will require leaving family and friends behind to go to the new place or to a new level. Doing this can be painful and difficult.

Boaz had heard of how Ruth had left her family and land to follow Naomi into a new land after her husband had died.

Every person has various points in their life in which they have to take a step into something unknown or new to them. It begins as a child moving up into new class levels in school and continues through adulthood with new jobs or locations to live.

Any time a person becomes a new believer, he must take a step into something new, something unknown. There is a change of the way of thinking and doing things. In this process one must be willing to leave behind things and people.

The new believer has a new life and is a new creation in Christ Jesus with a new family and a new way of living. It is a new culture that is drastically different from the past. The past is behind, and all things are new.

Taking a step like this requires complete faith in God and His boldness to step away from the past. It is trusting that God knows what is best and has something better in store.

As a believer there are some things that you have had to leave behind. There may be more things or people that God wants you to leave behind because they only distract you from Him and pull you down.

Keep your eyes focused on God and follow Him all the way. Do not allow people or things in your life to pull you away from God and what He has for you.

What God has in store for you is much greater than anything or anyone you must leave behind. Are you holding on to your past? Or are you leaving all behind and moving forward in Jesus?

Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Lord and Savior; that you will know what God wants you to leave behind; that God will give you strength to leave behind what will harm or distract you; and that you will follow God with all of your heart and life.

by

Luke 5:27-28 Leave All To Follow

After this, Jesus went out and saw a tax collector by the name of Levi sitting at his tax booth. “Follow me,” Jesus said to him, and Levi got up, left everything and followed him. Luke 5:27-28

When most people hear the phrase, ‘to follow someone’, they often think about following someone on some social media platform. They want to know what that person is doing as much as possible, but only from a distance.

In following someone on social media, it does not require much effort, and no change in a person’s life. There is only a few clicks involved.

Jesus saw a tax collector, Levi, sitting at his job. Jesus tells him to follow Him. Levi gets up, leaves everything and follows Him.

Following Jesus is often very similar to following someone on social media. People claim to believe in and follow Jesus, but never make any real changes to their lives.

Yes, they go to church, but only to get something out of it, not to build others up. Their bible sits on a shelf, only to be dusted off for a church service. They continue to live in a life of sin. It is rare to never that they tell someone about Jesus.

The question comes up as to whether they are really following Jesus or not. Following Jesus must mean a change. Jesus came to change lives, not just have a social gathering online in word only, but not in real life. He came to save the world, not just get some likes.

In the same way that Matthew got up and left everything behind to follow Jesus, every believer must be willing to do the same. He must allow Jesus to be Lord and Master of his life, in every area of his life.

If you have chosen to follow Jesus, ask yourself how are you following Jesus. Are you following Jesus just like following someone on a social media platform? Or are you leaving everything behind and giving it your all to follow Him?

God has great things in store for your life, but you must be willing to trust Him and follow Jesus with everything in you. Do not hold anything back from God, but give Him it all. Jesus is ready to build you and use you in great ways, when you allow Him to do so.

Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Savior; that you will follow Jesus with all of your life; that you will allow God to change your life; and that you will be willing to leave everything to follow and obey Jesus.

by

1 Peter 4:4 Are They Surprised?

They are surprised that you do not join them in their reckless, wild living, and they heap abuse on you. 1 Peter 4:4

For the majority of people in the world they have a view that anything is permissible. A person can do whatever he likes, as long as it does not directly hurt someone else.

With this type of thinking, people will do sinful acts as though there is nothing wrong. Not only do they do these things, but they also are surprised when someone else does not agree or participate in the activities with them.

After describing what believers were like, he now describes how believers are different from the world. The world is surprised when a believer no longer participates with them in reckless, wild living and they choose to abuse the believer.

One of the things that should mark a believer is the change in his lifestyle. Every believer is a person who was once just like the rest of the world, living in sinful ways. However, once becoming a believer, this should change.

As a believer, one should choose to no longer live in a sinful ways, but in a ways that serves and honors God and others.

Sadly, many in the church have not chosen to change their lifestyle as a believer, but to continue to live in sinful ways. Many have chosen to justify their sinful activities, so that the world is not surprised nor abusive towards them.

Every true believer, who chooses to turn from sin, will be abused by the world. The world will not understand why he will not participate and will call it hate when he doesn’t condone and participate in sin.

This will be one sign that a person is truly following Christ. If the world was to look at your life, what will they see? Will they see someone who is just like them, participating in all of the same activities? Or will they see someone who is different and against all sinful activities?

Only you and God know that true answer. Do not allow yourself to go back to the old, sinful way of living. Do not allow yourself to live your life as the world lives.

Be different in following Christ with all of your heart, soul, mind and strength. Be different in refusing to live in any sinful way, regardless of how small or big it is.

Is the world surprised with you?

Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Savior; that you will live your life honoring God; that God will strengthen you to turn away from all past sins; that you will live differently than the world; and that the world will see that you follow God with all of your life.

by

Mark 2:14 Leave The Past And Follow

As he walked along, he saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,” Jesus told him, and Levi got up and followed him. Mark 2:14

People often do not like major change in their lives. They like things to always remain the same. Many, however, will jump onto something new and popular, often because everyone else is doing it.

A new fashion fad comes out being promoted by some famous person, and suddenly everyone is doing it. They are quick to drop the old ways for the new fashion.

As Jesus was walking along one day, He goes up to Levi and tells him to follow Him. Levi immediately gets up, leaves his work and follows Jesus.

While many people are quick to change ways and follow a new fad in this world, it is not as popular with following Jesus. He is still going around telling people to follow Him.

Many do not want to follow Jesus, because it means major change. In order to follow Jesus it means one has to leave his past behind, get up and follow Him. One is not to hold onto the past and say they are following, staying in sin and sinful ways, but to leave it all behind.

Just as Levi got up and left behind a lucrative business, people are to leave behind the things of this world to follow Jesus. This may or may not mean a change of a job, but it does mean leaving sin behind. It will mean a change in activities and friends. It is going wherever Jesus is leading, with no questions being asked.

God will always lead a person on a new path, when he begins to follow Jesus. This path is a new path of a full, abundant life that goes into eternity.

Jesus is also calling you to follow Him on the path He has for you. It is more than just words, but will require some change and sacrifice upon your part to follow Him.

God does not call you to follow without some change. You cannot stay where you are, physically, emotionally or spiritually, and still follow Jesus. You have to get up, leave the past behind and follow Him. Become the new creation God is making you to be.

Are you willing to follow Jesus today? Or will you stay where you are in this fallen world?

Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Savior; that you will hear God’s call to follow Him; that God will give you strength and direction to leave your past behind to follow Him; and that you will know all God has for you.

by

Matthew 4:20 Leave And Follow

At once they left their nets and followed him. Matthew 4:20

There are times when some new person comes on the scene with some new great idea, toy, song, word or something, and everyone appears to drop everything to follow that person. People are very quick to follow major celebrities in whatever they do.

Things that will catch their attention to follow are new ideas, objects or performance. People love to follow new ideas, hoping or thinking that it will make life better, thus they are quick to change what they follow.

Jesus came up to two men who were fishermen, working on their nets and boat. He told them to follow Him, and they immediately dropped their nets and followed Him.

Most people are not quick to drop everything to follow a complete stranger, whom they have never met before. Questions are usually asked first. People want to know the who, what, why and where first. This becomes especially true when they must drop their job, their livelihood. It is their means of provision for themselves and their family.

Every day there are people who choose to believe in Jesus. They will say a sinner’s prayer and be saved. However, it is another thing for them to leave their past, change and follow Him. In many church circles, the emphasis is to believe in Jesus, with no mention of change of life and following Him.

Believing in Jesus is the first step to living for God. The next step is turning away from the old life and embracing a new one. God will show a person what He desires of Him. The new goal in life is catching people for God, being His witness. Every believer must be willing to drop their past as they begin to follow Jesus.

God is calling you today. First, if you are not a believer, to believe in Jesus, His one and only Son. Then Jesus calls you to be His witness and strive to catch men for Him.

This means you must be willing to let go of your past and embrace the new life. Change your way of acting, thinking and speaking. Your new goal will be to be His witness everywhere you go, with every opportunity you have.

As God is calling you, are you willing to let go of your past, trust Him and follow Him? God has a plan for your life when you choose to follow Him. Embrace it today,

Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Savior; that you will follow God with all of your life; that God will strengthen you to leave your past behind; and that you will embrace what God has for you now.