Leaving All

 Devotion: Leaving All to Follow Christ

Scripture:
“And He said to another, ‘Follow Me.’ But he said, ‘Lord, let me first go and bury my father.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.’” – Luke 9:59–60 (KJV)

Jesus never sugarcoated the cost of discipleship. When He called people to follow Him, He meant total allegiance, immediate obedience, and a heart fully surrendered. The man in this passage didn’t refuse outright—he simply wanted to delay. But with Jesus, “later” is not obedience. It is still a “no” disguised as a “maybe.”

The man’s father wasn’t dead yet. In reality, he was saying, “Let me wait until it’s more convenient… until my family obligations are settled… until the inheritance is secure… then I’ll follow You.” But Jesus cuts through all of that. Let the dead bury their own dead. In other words, Let those who are spiritually dead take care of earthly matters. You, however, have been called to something greater—the proclamation of the kingdom of God.

This passage makes me pause. How often have I told the Lord, “I’ll do it later”? I want to follow, but there are always reasons to delay—security, comfort, relationships, dreams. Jesus, however, doesn't call us when it’s convenient. He calls us to place Him first—before safety, family, money, or even our own lives.

As I reflect on the early church, I’m amazed at how they could face persecution, imprisonment, and martyrdom. The secret? They had already died to everything else. They didn’t fear loss because they had already counted it. They knew their treasure was Christ, and nothing else compared.

Today, too many equate being a Christian with saying a prayer, attending church, or being generally “good.” But Jesus never said, “Pray this prayer.” He said, Follow Me. And following means leaving. It may not mean giving everything up—but it must mean being willing to, if called. That is true discipleship from a Hebraic perspective—a full-bodied, whole-life allegiance.

Contemplation:

• What am I holding onto that delays my obedience to Jesus?

• Have I truly left all in my heart to follow Him, or am I still waiting for a more convenient time?

• How might my life change if Jesus truly became first—not in theory, but in every decision?

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, thank You for calling me to follow You. Forgive me for the times I’ve delayed my obedience or clung too tightly to things of this world. Help me to trust You enough to place You first—above comfort, relationships, and even my own plans. Teach me what it means to leave all and follow You with joy. Strengthen me to proclaim Your kingdom with urgency and devotion. I surrender all, Lord—help me to live like it.
Amen.