What Does It Mean to Follow Jesus?Sample

Following Jesus requires our full devotion

“Whoever loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.” (Matthew 10:37)

Jesus explains to His disciples what it means to follow Him and to “love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind”. It means to put God above everything else: above your possessions, above your career, and even above your family members. For Jesus’ twelve disciples, this meant they had to leave their former occupations. For others, their choice to follow Jesus will lead to alienation or even enmity from the side of their loved ones. It may earn them persecution and social exclusion. Jesus warns us to consider the costs before we decide to become a disciple of His.

God is worthy of our total and exclusive devotion. He wants the first place in our lives and warns us not to put other things or people next to Him, “for I the Lord your God am a jealous God” (Exodus 20:5). Everything that takes God’s place in our lives is an idol, even if it is something good in itself.

Whom or what do you love most? Do you love Jesus above all?