Following Jesus is often synonymous with abandoning other things…things we don’t want to abandon. He calls us to do just that.
Abandoning maybe family, maybe friends and maybe romance interests, who are just headed down a dark path away from Christ.
Abandoning our politics with its idolatry about the government.
Abandoning grudges and bitterness in exchange for forgiveness and mercy.
Abandonment of the pursuit of money. for the constant pursuit of Jesus Christ. Which can subtract from our net worth.
Abandoning the hoarding of money to the giving of money away.
Abandoning constant leisure and pleasure for suffering for his name’s sake.
But…If we can keep our eyes fixed on Him, it’s not so hard. He makes it tolerable and sometimes easy.