What Is Your Turning Away Point?

Matthew 19:21–22 (NIV)

21 Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” 22 When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth.

It is very easy to criticize this wealthy young man. We can sit back and say that we would have handled this request one way or another, but at the end of the day, we all have that one thing that we feel is untouchable. For the rich young man that was his untold wealth. If we do not have an abundance of wealth, it may actually be easier for us to part with. What happens though when the Lord tells you to put the drink away, guides you away from a successful career to evangelize in third-world countries, or maybe He is simply calling you to contentment when you are an extremely competitive person. When Jesus calls upon you, are you going to be able to drop everything to serve Him?

He Calls, We Listen

The Lord has great plans for us, it is important that we listen when we are being called into something. 2 Peter 1:10–11 reminds us… (10) Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; (11) for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ… It is awesome that the Lord has special callings for each of us. One person may be called to speak in front of the church, another may be called to write devotionals, while others may be called to simply love His children. Whatever that calling is, we are called to make that election sure.

Going All In

1 Kings 8:61 calls us to be all in for God… (61) Let your heart therefore be loyal to the LORD our God, to walk in His statutes and keep His commandments, as at this day… The Lord is calling us to be all in, to be fully committed to His statues, to keep His commandments. We must be willing to set aside that which is earthly to focus on that which is heavenly. It is truly amazing that the Lord uses us at all in His plan, the least we can do it be fully committed to that plan when we are called to action.

What Is That One Thing?

Has the Lord been calling you to something? Is it difficult for you to think about? Is it even more difficult to commit to? The Lord has great and wonderful plans for our lives. Those plans will often be heavenly-centered, not worldly-centered. Because His ways are better than ours, we must lean not on our own understanding, but trust Him as we never have before. What is that one thing the Lord has been placing on your heart that you have been ignoring? Turn to Him, seek His face, execute His plan!

Closing Thoughts:

We are sometimes blinded by that one thing that captures our heart. Sometimes that is money, other times it may be success, maybe even fear. It is important that we trust the Lord with all of our heart, with all of our soul and with all of our mind. Take steps toward your calling, the Lord will be faithful in guiding your way.

Mark 12:29–31 (NKJV)

29 Jesus answered him, “The first of all the commandments is: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30 And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment. 31 And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”