God doesn't follow us

Lesson 33: God isn't just some attachment to our lives.

I would say that this is the most challenging thing as Christians.  When we become a Christian, most of us simply "add" God into our daily routine.  We might pray or read our Bible when we get the chance.  Or maybe just add on church once or twice a week.  By doing these things, we think that God is just so pleased with us and what more could he possibly want?  Well, the problem with this is that God doesn't follow us.  

We are called to follow Him.  Not the other way around.

And as he was setting out on his journey, a man ran up and knelt before him and asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.’” And he said to him, 'Teacher, all these I have kept from my youth.” And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to 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." Disheartened by the saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.  Mark 10: 17-22

Jesus doesn't say in this passage, keep your life and I'll just follow you around wherever you go.  No, He says, "Come, follow me."  I'm not saying we have to go selling everything we own and become hobos (God knew his heart and that's why He called him to sell all of his riches).  For some of us, the sacrifice Jesus asks us to make may be small right now, but I believe at some point God calls us all to sacrifice something that means a lot to us at some point.  The question is: will you be willing to lay down your pride for the God who laid down his life?  Or will you be like the rich young man who clung to what is temporary?

Now I don't want to speak for God, but I really do believe the reason He asks us to sacrifice the things that mean so much to us is because He wants to be first in our hearts.  When He asks, "Will you follow me?" will we do it despite what we want?  Imagine if we as Christians did what God asked and we followed Him instead of just adding Him onto our lives.  We would see more love.  More kindness.  More forgiveness.  More action.  More of Him.

The first Christians were called Followers of the Way and that's because they truly did follow in the footsteps of their Rabbi.  They followed so closely that they were caked in His dust and it showed in their words and actions.  God, I don't just want to add you onto my life any more.  I want to follow you no matter the cost, no matter the sacrifice because I know that your way is better.  I know that you are the truth and the truth is more important than a comfortable lie.  I love you.

~Alyssa