The Disciples Left Something to Follow Jesus
In Matt 4:18-20, Jesus said to Peter and Andrew, “Follow me… and they straightway left their nets and followed him.” Notice that they left their nets. In Matt 4:21-22, John and James “left the ship and their father, and followed him.” Notice that they left their ship and father. Likewise, you’re going to leave something to follow Jesus. If you don’t leave whatever is keeping you from following Jesus, you will never follow him.
You Turned to God When You Were Saved
Look what the Lord did when you were saved. The Lord turned you from darkness to light and from the power of Satan unto God, Acts 26:18. According to Acts 26:20, we repented and turned to God. Some of us turned to God from idols, 1 Thes 1:9. Notice in these verses the definite turning away from the devil and darkness and idols toward God and light in salvation.
However, after Jesus saves you, he wants you to follow him. And following him is not the same thing as being saved by him. Yet, there is a similarity. As you turned from something to the Lord, so you will leave something to follow Jesus. This is the reason that many who profess to be saved are not following the Lord. They don’t want to leave whatever thy need to leave to follow him.
Be Willing to Leave Something to Follow Jesus
In Lk 9:57-58, one potential disciple didn’t want to leave the comforts of home. Another would-be disciple didn’t want to leave his family, Lk 9:59-62. In Matt 10:34-39, Jesus described the difficult sword and cross his disciples must carry. Most people are just not willing to pay the price or bear the cost, Lk 14:25-33.
Are you willing to leave something to follow Jesus? What is it in your life that is holding you back? The chief rulers wouldn’t confess Jesus because they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God, Jn 12:42-43. Demas quit following because he loved the world, 2 Tim 4:10. Whatever it is in your life that’s holding you back, you need to leave it.
You are never going to be a disciple as long as you are not willing to leave something to follow the Lord. For more on this topic see Following God.