Leaving the Past to Follow Jesus
Scripture - Luke 9:57-62
Sometimes we hold on to the past so tightly it becomes a detriment to both our present and future. In today’s passage, we see Jesus interacting with a few people who wanted to follow Him, but also wanted to “go back” in their lives to do something first before following Him. One person wanted to go back and bury their father and another wanted to go back and say goodbye to their family. Doesn’t seem like bad things to do, so why did Jesus say, “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God”?
Here’s the thing… you can’t live for the Kingdom of God and live in the past as the same time. You can’t choose God and still hold on to your old life. You must let go of the past and cling to Jesus. He wants to do some amazing things in your life, but we won’t be able to if you’re not willing to fully let go of the past and follow Him with your whole heart.
Leaving the past may mean leaving family, friends, old habits, old mindsets, and old ways that would hinder your life from moving forward in the right direction. John 8:12 says, "Then Jesus spoke to them again: 'I am the light of the world. Anyone who follows Me will never walk in the darkness but will have the light of life.'”
The past is darkness and leads to nowhere. Our only hope and future is in Jesus Christ. When we choose to follow Him wholeheartedly, we must do so willing to leave and let go of anything that would try to hold us back. There is freedom in choosing Jesus Christ that we can’t get anywhere else.
Yes, the past may feel good. Yes, the past is familiar. But to get to where God wants you to go you’ve got to leave it behind you and press forward. You can’t run a race backwards. You can’t walk backwards and forward at the same time. Don’t believe me? Try it! It just doesn’t work. Your past is behind you, Jesus is with you now and will walk with you into your future. Looking to Him and allowing Him to lead you is the only way you will ever win in life. He is Life and Light and the Source of all blessings.
Journal
- What are you allowing from your past to prevent you from moving forward with Jesus?
- Why are you holding on to it?
- What has holding on to the past produced in your life?
- Spend time talking to Jesus about your past today. Give it over to Him. Ask Him to help you let go so you can move ahead in/with Him.
Brothers, I do not consider myself to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and reaching forward to what is ahead, I pursue as my goal the prize promised by God’s heavenly call in Christ Jesus. -Philippians 3:13-14, HCSB
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