Leaving something behind to follow Jesus is a difficult step of faith. We can become attached to our lives as we know them and not want to change. In His infinite wisdom, the Lord knows what we must leave behind to follow Him.
I worked in engineering for many years but had to leave my career behind when the Lord called me to become a pastor. I had no idea how much this would affect me and my family as we all went on a journey with the Lord.
What we leave behind often tethers us to the past. God knows this must go to make way for the new things He wants to do in our lives. A friend who became a believer in Jesus left his life as a drug dealer behind to follow Jesus. When we take up the cross and follow Jesus, there are things in our lives that we may have thought were important but are no longer. As believers, the Lord gives us a new heart and new priorities which align with God’s plans.
Peter Left His Life of Fishing
When Jesus finished teaching alongside the Sea of Galilee, He asked Peter to put out into the deep for a catch of fish. Although this was the wrong time of day to catch fish, Peter obeyed. To Peter’s surprise, there was such a catch of fish their boats were on the verge of sinking. Luke 5:8 When Simon Peter realized what had happened, he fell to his knees before Jesus and said, “Oh, Lord, please leave me—I’m such a sinful man.”[1]
At this moment, Peter knew Jesus was going to call him. He may have thought about his life as a fisherman and probably could not imagine doing anything different. Peter did not know that fishing for people was God’s plan for his life beginning that day.
Luke 5:10 Jesus replied to Simon, “Don’t be afraid! From now on, you’ll be fishing for people!” 11 And as soon as they landed, they left everything and followed Jesus. [2] For Peter to follow Jesus, he would have to give up fishing for fish and fish for people. Now, he would have to leave his boat behind for something greater.
Leaving Something Behind is God’s Plan
We can’t see what God sees or know what He knows. What the Lord calls us to leave behind would hinder us from moving forward in faith. Money, security, addictions, or the unknown can often keep us from following God’s plan for our lives.
As we step out in faith and look back on our lives, we often wonder why what we left behind had such a grip on us. Today, the Lord may call you to leave part of your life behind to venture into the unknown with Him by your side. Don’t be afraid, for the Lord is with you!
To learn more about leaving something behind to follow Jesus, listen here:
https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/calling-of-the-fishermen
[1] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation (Lk 5:8). Tyndale House Publishers.
[2] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation (Lk 5:10–11). Tyndale House Publishers.