“Jesus said, “Whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.” In modern language Jesus is saying whoever abandons his life will live life to its fullest. “Go for it! Taste the new wine of a life which defies the law of gravity, a life which throws caution to the wind, where danger and risk await!” Jesus is saying, “Abandon yourself to the One who will never abandon you.” (Mike Yaconelli, “Dangerous Wonder”)

“Those who find their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it.” (Matthew 10:39)

Mike Yaconelli begins chapter three talking about the summer he turned ten — and he and his friends built a “rocket ship” in his backyard. For three weeks, he and his friends gave themselves over to, or as he puts it, “abandoned” themselves to the wild adventures of space. He takes this path to speak about our faith lives — that they should be something we “abandon” our full selves over to — because G-d will never abandon us.

Have you abandoned everything to follow Jesus? I can hear your responses: “We are not the disciples; how could we abandon everything in our lives like they did to follow Jesus?” Few can actually abandon everything, everyone, every responsibility and every relationship to follow Jesus. In many cases, this just sounds like irresponsible behavior — not truly following Jesus.

And yet, Jesus calls us to follow him — but the degree of our following is up to each individual. So, what is it you and I are afraid to abandon? Our comfort? Our schedules? Our careers? Our money? Our possessions? Our security? Our theology? Our need for certainty? Our fear of making a mistake? Our family’s or our spouse’s expectations?

Each one of us needs to make our decision about the degree we can follow Jesus — and that changes every day, week, month, even every year. As long as we are following to the degree that we can, and always remember that G-d never abandons us, then our following will never be in vain.

Pastor Dave