Back during Lent, Pastor Art gave a fine sermon on the story of Jesus and the Samaritan woman at the well (John 4:1-41). I became interested in an odd comment in the Gospel: “The woman left her water jar” (vs. 28). That’s a strange thing to mention. She left her water jar, so what? Maybe she was in a big hurry because she goes off to town to invite people to come and see Jesus. She is a sort of evangelist for him.

I though about it more. This isn’t the only case where someone leaves something behind. Andrew and Peter leave the fishing nets when Jesus calls them (Mark 1:18). John and James leave their father in the boat (Mark 1:20). Matthew leaves his tax collector’s booth (Matthew 9:9).

There’s a theme here. Shortly before Jesus enters Jerusalem, Peter asks him ; “Look, we have left everything and followed you” (Matthew 19:27). There is a cost to following Christ, a renunciation of some things of this world.  Is that true today?

I never particularly felt like I had given up anything to be a Christian. When I became a pastor, though, things changed. I was largely out of touch with lives of my extended family. After I moved to my first call in Florida, I never again saw the friends I had since elementary school. This leads me to say that even today being a Christian requires leaving something behind, becoming detached from some things of this world.

What has your life following Christ caused you to leave behind?

Read Mark10:28-30 and remember: God loves YOU unconditionally.

Wayne