Receiving Jesus as your personal Savior is the most rewarding decision that can ever be made. What happens next? Did you know that once a profession of faith is made, it comes with surrender to His Lordship over your life? If God asked you to give up your plans, prized possessions, or misplaced priorities, would you do it? What would be the return on your investment with entrusting your life to Him?
My personal story included asking myself this question. Shortly after my wife, Audra, and I truly surrendered to Jesus, in our 20s, He radically changed our lives. We felt called to the mission field. Following His call involved selling our home and putting our possessions in storage. Saying goodbye to our families, we moved to a foreign country. It wasn’t easy, but we knew Jesus was leading us.
Initially, we wrestled with doubt. Would we regret our decision? What if things didn’t work out? But, as we took one faithful step at a time, we experienced the provision and faithfulness of God in new ways. What we previously thought we couldn’t live without was later revealed as insignificant compared to the joy of walking in obedience.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer famously said, “When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die.” This doesn’t always mean literal death, but, rather, dying to our affections and anything competing with our devotion to Jesus.
Not that everyone will be asked to sell their belongings and move away from family, but it may be good to start asking yourself if there are things with a grip on your life so strong that it would be hard to give up if Jesus asked you to.
Turning Over Your Plans
While acknowledging Jesus is the first step of devotion to Him, true faith requires obedience. As Christians, we are to align our lives with Him. In Matthew 7:21, Jesus warns:
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.”
Faith without obedience is empty. James 2:17 reminds us:
“So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.”
It’s not that works save us, but genuine faith naturally produces obedience. Following Jesus means responding when He calls us to let go of our temporal dreams, even when it’s difficult.
Exchanging Worldly Security for Trust
Devoting you life to Jesus requires trust - the kind of trust that allows Him to define who you are and direct your pursuits. A clear example is found in Mark 10:17-22. A rich young ruler approached Jesus, asking how to inherit eternal life. He had followed all the religious commandments, yet Jesus told him:
“You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.”
Jesus tested his affection; and, sorrowfully, the man chose to walk away because his great wealth was more important to him. Jesus wasn’t condemning wealth; He was exposing the true object of his worship. Being sad is a normal human response, but we don't have to let a fear-based reaction prevent us from exchanging security in money for trust in God.
Contrast this with Zacchaeus in Luke 19. When he encountered Jesus, he willingly gave away half of his wealth and repaid those he had wronged. Zacchaeus responded differently because his heart had truly changed.
Each of us need to ask ourselves what Jesus is asking us to surrender? For the rich young ruler, it was money. For Peter, it was his fishing career. For Matthew, it was his tax collection booth. Jesus doesn’t issue a one-size-fits-all call; He asks for what gripss our hearts.
What is He asking you to let go of? Comfort? Security? Approval from others? Maybe for you, it’s a career path that provides stability but is keeping you from stepping out in faith. Perhaps it’s a relationship that’s become more important than your walk with Christ. Maybe it’s a habit, an addiction, or even a dream you’ve held onto so tightly that surrendering it feels impossible.
Redefining Your Relationships
Sometimes what Jesus asks for seems shocking. One such statement from Jesus is found in Matthew 10:34 (ESV):
“Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.”
Wait—Jesus is the Prince of Peace, right? And yet, He says He didn’t come to bring peace? That seems contradictory. What does He mean?
Jesus is revealing that following Him will cause division, even within families. Cherishing relationships with people in ways that require adherence to their expectations and traditions will draw you away from following Jesus.
Matthew continues in 10:37-38:
“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. And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.”
Jesus is cutting to the heart of our loyalties. Jesus’ statement about bringing a sword instead of peace in Matthew 10:34 speaks to the tension that arises when someone follows Him. Family and friends might not understand.
Is there anyone you love more than Jesus? Are you willing to follow Him, even if it causes friction with those closest to you? Are you willing to respond with grace and pray for loved ones who may persecute you for your decision?
Are Sacrifices Worth It?
The cost of following Jesus is real, but so is the joy of surrender. When we release our grip on the things that hold us back, we find freedom in Christ. We discover a deeper peace that isn’t dependent on circumstances. We experience the joy of knowing we are walking in His will, even when the road is uncertain.
Though following Jesus may involve some loss, what we gain is far greater. The result of trust and devotion is something infinitely better—more of Himself and all that comes with Him, like joy, peace, and love.
Where to go from here
To receive the priceless blessings from God, begin by prayerfully asking yourself some questions. What is holding your heart? If Jesus asked you to give it up, would you? Would you walk away sad like the rich young ruler, or would you respond in faith like Zacchaeus? The cost of following Jesus is real, but so is the joy of walking in full surrender to Him. He is worth it every time.
Keep Reading:
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