What is holding you back from following Jesus? Maybe it’s not what’s holding you back. Maybe it’s what you’re holding onto. Many times in life, those things that we hold onto are what hold us back.

Simon and Andrew were casting nets when Jesus called in Mark 1, “Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men. And immediately they left their nets and followed him,” (vv17-18). Further down the shore, James and John sat mending nets with their father Zebedee. Again, Jesus called and “immediately… they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants and followed him,” (v20).

Nets, a boat, a father, a trade that had perhaps fed their families for generations, they could have held onto these things. None of it was sinful. All of it was good. But even good things become obstacles when we hold them tighter than we hold Jesus.

Notice the word “immediately.” They didn’t negotiate terms. They didn’t finish the catch first. No, they immediately released what their hands had ahold of so they could be free to follow Jesus.

Beloved, is there something that you are holding onto that is keeping you from following Jesus? Perhaps it’s pride or some inkling of doubt. Maybe it’s the approval of some particular person that you don’t want to lose. Maybe it’s your pet sin that you really do love.

I don’t know exactly what it is for you, but I do know this: whatever it is doesn’t compare to Jesus. If you will let that thing go, and grab ahold of Jesus, you will be trading up, trading death for life! Jesus is way better. Even if it’s a good thing, Jesus is far superior.

Beloved, let go, and grab Jesus.

Change begins in you!