Jan 21, 2021 … Willing To Let Go

Berry Patch Devotions in 2020 - Day 21 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...   Please take the time to take in song and lyrics from Clay Crosse, Bob Carlisle, and Bebe Winans singing … I Will Follow Christ …  powerfully singing of the surrender to follow Christ as His disciple … no matter what! 

Willing to let go of the small fish ... 

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Highlight Passage:   Matthew 19:21-22 [ESV] ... 

21 Jesus said to him, “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.”  22 When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.<

…  Pride and greed compelled the rich young ruler to refuse to follow Christ.       

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Highlight Passage [Context]: …  Matthew 19:16-26 [ESV] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… The story of the rich young ruler who could not let go of his riches to follow Christ …  

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Reference Passage: … Matthew 7:21 [ESV] ... 

21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.  

…  Jesus teaches His followers (and us) that only those who’re willing to surrender and follow the Lord will enter heaven.   

Reference Passage: … Luke 9:23  [ESV] ... 

23 And He said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. …”   

…  Jesus makes it clear to His followers what it takes to be His “disciple.”

Reference Passage: … Acts 2:38 [ESV] … 

38 And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. …” 

…  Peter preaches the truth that one must repent and receive the free gift of God’s Spirit. 

Reference Passage: … 2Peter 3:9 [ESV] … 

9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. 

…  Peter explains God’s patience in waiting to receive any/all who’re willing to repent and follow Christ.  

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Cindy Hess Kasper, AT THIS LINK  tells of a religious leader who, recognizing the superiority of Christ over his own faith, was unwilling to surrender and repent, telling those sharing Christ with him …   “I’m like a man fishing with my hands in a stream. I have caught a small fish in one, but a bigger fish is swimming by. To catch the bigger fish, I have to let go of the smaller one!” [see photo]

This story reminded the ODB author of Jesus’ encounter with the rich young ruler in Matthew 19, who, so desiring of Jesus to be shown the way to heaven, … but was unwilling to do what Jesus demanded because of his pride and desire to hold onto his worldly wealth.  As Peter strongly preached [see Acts 2:38 and 2Peter 3:9], anyone who desires heaven must be willing to repent of self and surrender to follow the Savior.  

And I pray that all reading with me here have been - and are - willing to do what Jesus taught to His followers (see Matt. 7:21 and Luke 9:23) and that is repent of selfish pride and do all we can - in faith - to follow Him, … just as is sung in the linked song.  

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh Abba Father, ... thank You, Lord, … for showing us the way to heaven. 

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... I pray that all reading here will join me, … to repent and set aside any/all of our selfish pride and to follow Christ.     … Amen

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Blogger Note:  Everyday during this year, my daily devotional blogs are influenced by the reading and study of the online devotional blog entitled “Our Daily Bread,” distributed online via email by RBC Ministries.  If you GO TO THIS LINK on the date of my blog, you can read/study the ODB blogs; or you can subscribe to the blog via email at that site.