01 22 08 His Footsteps

“The man said to him, ‘Teacher, I have wholeheartedly obeyed
all these laws since my youth.’
As Jesus looked at him, he felt love for him and said, ‘You lack one thing. Go, sell whatever you have and give the money to the poor,
and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow Me.’
But at this statement, the man looked sad and went away sorrowful,
for he was very rich.”
(Mark 10:20-22 NET)

The Amplified Bible reads in Mark 10:21 “…come accompany Me (walking the same road I walk).”

Here the rich young ruler knew all the Scriptures and professed to keeping all of them. But Jesus knew his attitude; his true heart condition. Would he give up all he loved of life and really follow after Christ? Was it possible for God’s will become His first and only priority? Was this man able to commit to walking down the road with Jesus, leaving his will behind? Would he commit to walk in HIS FOOTSTEPS?

Unfortunately, we know the answer: the beauty and riches of the world were too strong of a pull. The young man was sad, but obviously not grieved enough to follow Christ. As smart as he was and all the things he had….he would leave lacking.

As we look in the mirror of our hearts, who do we resemble the most; the rich young ruler or the Samaritan woman at the well in John 4. Her reaction to the good man she was talking was not pride, but astonishment as she decided go and tell her friends and invite them to hear Him as well.

“Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did.”
(John 4:29)

The Samaritan woman had an encounter with the One who knew all about her and she believed…even to tell others. The rich young man’s reaction was to turn away in sadness. It seems the young man had too much to leave behind when asked to walk in HIS FOOTSTEPS. The Samaritan woman on the other hand, was humbled, realizing her life was an open book before the Lord. Maybe we too have a little too much stuff to really walk in HIS FOOTSTEPS.

What is holding us back from 100% commitment: Is it our job, our family, our possessions, our wish list? Are we willing to make Jesus Christ our only priority? Will we selfishly walk away from His invitation to “follow me” or we humbly admit we really have nothing without Him and follow HIS FOOTSTEPS. One thing we are promised; as we commit, the Lord will walk with us and never leave us alone and orphaned. No matter who walks away from us, God never will. I am a witness to this, even though I can say I don’t deserve his faithfulness to me. He is always there to call me back, as long as I am willing to take His hand!