Follow Me

A Quick Look: Matthew 19: 21 – 22
Really Read It: Matthew 19: 16 - 30
Memorize: Matthew 10: 38 – 39 Anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

In this story, a young guy with a lot of money came to talk to Jesus. He had a lot more going for him that just money though. This guy was used to being the favorite. In school, he was the teacher’s favorite. At church (synagogue), he was the pastor’s (rabbi’s) favorite. At the market, he was every seller’s favorite. He was the good kid. He followed all of the rules, showed up to parties on time, and kept his room clean. Some of those are guesses, but he told Jesus that he followed all of the rules, and Jesus didn’t argue with him. Also as a rich guy everyone in his town thought that God had blessed him, and that meant he was doing everything right.

The good kid came to Jesus to ask what good thing he should do to get eternal life. If you ask that question in church, you will get this answer: “You can’t do anything to get eternal life. It is a free gift of grace.”

That answer has some truth in it, but it has made millions of people into do nothing Christians and it is nowhere close to the answer that Jesus gave.

Jesus started by taking apart the guy’s question. Jesus picked at every word. But Jesus wasn’t being picky with grammar. He was looking into the man’s heart. Jesus said, “Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only One who is good.”

The rich guy couldn’t see the capital O in One to know that One means God. Jesus was really asking: Do you really think I am good? Do you believe that I am from God? Do you believe that I am God? This man made no answer to these questions. I don’t think he had an answer, but Jesus moved on before he even tried.

Jesus talked to him about following the commandments, following rules, doing stuff. And the man said he was good at it. He was good at following rules, but he knew it wasn’t enough. In verse 20 he said, “What do I still lack?”

He knew that he didn’t have God. He knew he that God was far away from Him. Good for him that he knew that. Bad for him that he didn’t care. He cared about getting eternal life. He didn’t care about getting God. He was willing to follow the rules to get into heaven as long as it wasn’t too hard. He didn’t want God. He was willing to do stuff to get something from God. He didn’t want God.

Jesus didn’t tell him to stop trying to do stuff. Just believe and hang on. Jesus didn’t tell him to do less. He told him to do more. Jesus didn’t tell him to follow less. He told him to follow more, to follow Jesus. When Jesus told him the price of finding God, the man walked away sad. He would not pay that much.

What price is Jesus giving you? How much will you pay to follow Him? to be close to Him? to really know Him? Jesus won’t ask you to sell your house. He probably won’t even ask you to sell your Wii, but He might tell you to play it less. Would you pay that small price to know God?

The price of following is the same every time. Love the world less. Which part of the world do you hold onto the tightest? Hannah Montana? Sponge Bob? Soccer? Basketball? Gossip? to be the best? to be seen?

You know the price, so what will you do? Will you walk away sad, because you are holding on so tight? Will you follow Jesus, because He is worth letting go of everything else?
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Nathan is amazed to see God move in power every week at his church. You can see what is happening: http://www.worldrevivalchurch.com

You can find more of Nathan’s writing on lulu and helium.