"Leave Everything"

EPISODE 107

Be Willing to Walk Away

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What are you carrying that you’d feel naked if you left the house without — a cell phone, wallet, keys, headphones, pocket knife, notebook, pen, Bible, or something else? Most of us can think of a few items we’d be missing if they were left behind. But Jesus was with a bunch of guys who had left everything at home to follow him.

“In these days he went out to the mountain to pray, and all night he continued in prayer to God. And when day came, he called his disciples and chose from them twelve, whom he named apostles” (Luke 6:12-13).

Let’s look at a few of these apostles and what they left behind to follow after the Messiah.

The Fishermen

“... And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.” And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him” (Luke 5:10-11).

Fishermen weren’t typically known for being very “well off” during Jesus’ day. But despite not being wealthy by the world’s standards, these humble workers walked away from their boats — and their newfound massive haul of fish (Luke 5:9) — to follow this mysterious man. 
With their livelihood behind them, Jesus assigns them new jobs — man catchers! From now on, they’d be fearlessly luring in the hearts of those seeking a relationship with the Lord.

The Tax Collector

“After this he went out and saw a tax collector named Levi, sitting at the tax booth. And he said to him, “Follow me.” And leaving everything, he rose and followed him” (Luke 5:27-28).

Like the fishermen, Levi left his job to follow Jesus. It’s not clear how much Levi knew about Jesus before leaving his tax booth, but it sure seems like he took a massive leap of faith. As a wealthy man, it must have been challenging to abandon such a high paying — yet morally questionable — job like he had!

And it’s not to say that Levi gave up his possessions when he left everything since he immediately hosts Jesus for a great feast in his home (Luke 5:29). But from that day on, Levi’s life would change from a selfish lifestyle to selfless servitude of the Savior.

And You?

“If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me” (Luke 9:23).

While we consider the faith and commitment of Jesus’ earliest disciples, what about you? What are you willing to walk away from to follow him? Are you ready to put him before your family relationships (Luke 14:26), to give up your earthly possessions (Luke 14:33), or face a daily barrage of ridicule and threats from the world (Luke 14:27)?

Count the cost and commit to being a disciple of Christ like those fishermen and a tax collector did long ago.