In what ways can we "leave everything" to follow Jesus today? The Call in Luke 5:11 “And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed Him.” (Luke 5:11) What the First Disciples Actually Left • Boats – their business assets • Nets – tools of their trade • A record catch – immediate profit • Family employment and security (cf. Mark 1:20) • Predictable routines • Personal control over the future Why Leaving Everything Mattered • Jesus demands first place above all loves (Luke 14:26-27, 33). • Treasure in heaven outlasts treasure on earth (Matthew 6:19-21). • Gain in Christ surpasses every loss (Philippians 3:7-8). • Love for the world and love for the Father cannot coexist (1 John 2:15-17). What “Leave Everything” Looks Like Today Heart Surrender • Yield every decision to Christ’s lordship, large or small. • Repent of any sin the Spirit exposes, immediately and completely. Possessions and Finances • Hold resources as God’s, not yours; live as a steward, not an owner. • Budget for generosity: regular giving, spontaneous compassion, missions support (2 Corinthians 9:6-8). • Be willing to downsize or relocate if kingdom service calls for it. Career and Ambitions • Offer your skills to Christ’s purposes; choose jobs that honor Him. • Refuse unethical gains; accept promotions or losses only as He directs. • Consider vocational ministry or bi-vocational service if He leads (Matthew 4:19). Relationships • Maintain family love yet place loyalty to Jesus first (Matthew 10:37-38). • End relationships that draw you into sin. • Forge fellowship with believers for mutual obedience (Hebrews 10:24-25). Time and Comfort • Schedule daily time in Scripture and prayer before other pursuits. • Fast from entertainment or social media that dulls your zeal. • Embrace inconvenience, hardship, even persecution for the gospel (2 Timothy 3:12). Witness and Service • Speak of Christ whenever the Spirit opens a door (Acts 4:20). • Use spiritual gifts to build up your local church (1 Peter 4:10-11). • Serve the poor, the orphan, the widow, and the stranger (James 1:27). Practical Steps Toward Radical Availability 1. Each morning, verbally surrender your plans: “Lord, all I have is Yours.” 2. Conduct a quarterly audit of spending and possessions; release excess. 3. Set a recurring fast to sharpen dependence on God. 4. Write a one-sentence life mission that centers on making disciples. 5. Identify one costly act of obedience you’ve delayed; obey this week. 6. Join or start a small group committed to accountability and outreach. 7. Keep an open passport and an open calendar for short-term missions. 8. Memorize promises that sustain sacrifice (e.g., Hebrews 13:5-6). Encouraging Promises for Those Who Leave Everything “Truly I tell you,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for My sake and for the gospel will fail to receive a hundredfold in the present age … and in the age to come, eternal life.” (Mark 10:29-30) “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, for God has said: ‘Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you.’” (Hebrews 13:5) Living the Verse Today Leaving everything is less about geography and more about priority. Whether He directs you across an ocean or across the street, the call remains the same: let nothing outrank Jesus. When He owns the heart, He’s free to redirect the wallet, the calendar, the résumé, and the future. In that surrendered life we discover, with the first disciples, that the One we gain is worth infinitely more than anything we release. |
    |