Following Christ or Following The Rules?

I accepted Jesus into my heart when I was only in the third grade. I knew I was lost and bound for hell and I needed Jesus to save me. That was the greatest day of my life. As I said, I was only in the third grade. I continued living how my parents had raised me to behave and how I knew a Christian should behave. Church was not an option. I attended every Sunday morning, Sunday night, and Wednesday night, and was always at vacation bible schools, church camps, and revivals. I tried to pray every night before bed and I knew mostly every Bible story. Up until last year I thought I was doing everything right....

Then I came across Mark 10:17-31. It's the story of Jesus speaking to a rich man. The man approaches Jesus and tells Him he has observed the law since his youth but still wants to know what he can do to receive eternal life. Jesus tells the man he lacks one thing. He needs to give up everything he has and "take up the cross, and follow [Him]". The man turns away from Jesus because of his great possessions. Jesus didn't want the man to just follow the law, but for him to desire a relationship with Christ so much that he would be willing to surrender his heart and follow Christ Himself.

God spoke to me strongly through these verses. Yes, being a Christian was about living a life that was an example for others to see. I needed to make the right choices and do what was right. But that wasn't where I was supposed to stop. For so long I depended on myself not breaking the rules to be the core of my walk with Christ. But God has called us for so much more. He desires a true relationship with each of His children and willingness to submit to His plan and will.

That night God showed me He wants more. It opened me up to a completely new prayer life and relationship with Christ. God created us to need Him as our ultimate desire. If anything is reigning above Him in our hearts, we need to give them up and put God where He belongs. The rich man followed the law, but failed to put his possessions below Christ and follow His call. Following the rules is great, but there is so much more to being a Christian than just that. We are to take up our cross and be willing to follow the will of Christ no matter the cost.

I encourage you to check out 

Mark 10:17-31 for yourself!