Daily Devotional For Friday, July 11, 2025
We are looking at what it means to follow Jesus. Let me ask you this question: do you believe that Jesus is worth abandoning everything in order to follow Him? Could it be possible that Jesus is that good, that satisfying and that rewarding. We live in an American culture of self-righteousness, self-advancement, having the proper self-esteem, self-sufficiency, materialism, individualism and subjectism. But do these align with the teachings of Jesus?
The Apostle Paul writes this in Philippians 3:10, “That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and may share His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death” (ESV). Is that your desire also? Do you really want to be part of a group of Christians who have the same desire? It is estimated today that over 1 billion people have never even heard the Gospel. Would you be willing to risk it all to get the Gospel to them? Every day, nearly 26,000 children starve to death. Are you willing to risk it all to help them?
Jesus said this in Matthew 16:25, ”For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it” (NASB). If I were to ask you if you believe these words by Jesus are God’s inspired, inerrant and infallible truth, you would say, “Yes.” But what is the proof of that? Today, there are very wealthy Christian doctors and builders taking this to heart, selling everything and going overseas to make a difference for Christ. There are company owners mobilizing their employees and company to go and make a difference for Christ. There is nothing special about any of them, only their desire to follow Christ as Paul says in Philippians 3:10.
Now before you possibly make an emotional decision, you first have to ask yourself, “Do I believe that every word of Jesus is the truth?” And second, “If I believe every word of Jesus is truth, am I willing to personally obey it?” In other words, are we building God’s kingdom or ours? Are we selectively choosing which truth from Jesus applies to my life and which does not? Ask yourself the following questions: Am I willing to risk my life on something that will last for eternity, or settle for something less that is only temporary? Am I willing to be uncompromising to follow the unconditional call of Christ in my life with absolute abandonment? Am I willing to give up comforts to have more of the character of Christ in my life?
Assignment: I know this devotional is heavy, challenging and convicting. It is not to make you feel guilty, but graced. It is to remind all of us that the call to be a disciple requires the willingness to abandon it all for Christ if He asks us. Too many Christians are like the rich, young ruler in Matthew 19:16-26. Are you like this young man, or will you choose to be different?
Scripture To Meditate On: John 12:25, “He who loves his life loses it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it to life eternal” (NASB).
Prayer To Pray: “Lord, You’re going to need to help me to follow You wherever You lead me, even if it means to totally abandon everything for You. I like my stuff. I like my life. I like my possessions. I like my freedom to do what I want. I do not want to build my kingdom, but Yours. In Jesus’ name, Amen!”
I love you Southside! – Pastor Kelly