Nothing should compete for your allegiance to Jesus. . .not cost of obedience. . .
Peter said to him, “We have left all we had to follow you!” 29 “I tell you the truth,” Jesus said to them, “no one who has left home or wife or brothers or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God 30 will fail to receive many times as much in this age and, in the age to come, eternal life.” (Luke 18:28-30)
Nothing should compete for your allegiance to Jesus. . .not the voices of others. . .
When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5 But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.” 27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. (John 10:4-5, 27)
Nothing should compete for your allegiance to Jesus. . .not how hard the service is. . .
Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me. (John 12:26)
Nothing should compete for your allegiance to Jesus. . .not the intensity of your suffering. . .
To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. (1 Peter 2:21)
O Lord, nothing should compete with my allegiance to You. . .not work or business. . .not the comforts of home. . .not family. . .not my own desires. . .not the depth of the sacrifice. . .not money or possessions. . .not the cost of obedience. . .not the timing of the call. . .not the comforts of knowing where I’ll be living. . .not excuses. . .not memories of the past (good or bad). . .not getting up and moving. . .not the voices of others. . .not how hard the service is. . .not suffering. . .not sin. . .not even death. O Lord, I see that partial allegiance is no allegiance at all!
Will you join me in following Paul as he said: “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.” (1 Corinthians 11:1)
