Jesus said that whoever wants to be His disciple "must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow" Him (see Matthew 16:24). It implies that there is something we will deny ourselves of before we can fully follow Him. What are the things that hinder you from fully pursuing Jesus?

Careers

When Jesus first called His disciples to follow him, all of them were in one way or another busy at work. The first chapter of Mark describes Peter and Andrew as "casting [their] net into a lake" when the Lord called them to follow Him. They had to stop fishing, and consequently abandon their source of living, so that they could follow the Lord.

Like Peter and Andrew, we should let go of our career if it hinders our pursuit of God. He is higher than our career, and deserves more than just one hour for church every week.

Background

Luke 5 details that when Levi, also known as Matthew, was called, he was sitting in a tax booth tending to his job. Levi gives us another great example – our background is not a prerequisite to follow Christ. Tax collectors in Jesus' time were considered corrupt when it comes to money. Christ likely knew that, and yet He called a tax collector to become a disciple anyway.  Apparently, Jesus doesn't mind what background his followers come from, but He does mind that we leave that background behind to prioritize Him.

Family

Choosing to leave family for the purpose of following Jesus is a very important decision to make. We should prioritize Him higher than our families and He will see to it that, if we do, it will not be in vain.

Jesus told Peter in Mark 10:29-30 that "no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age: homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—along with persecutions—and in the age to come eternal life."

Still, this doesn't mean that we should totally abandon our families. Jesus gave His mother over to John's care in His death (see John 19:26-28), showing that He honoured family, only next to God.

Riches

Sadly, this is the biggest obstacle for many Christians. In Mark 10:17-22 we find a rich young man approaching Jesus to ask if he can follow Him. This young man religiously followed the commandments, but was short in one area that Jesus specifically pointed out: riches.

"Jesus looked at him and loved him. 'One thing you lack,' he said. 'Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.' At this the man's face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth" (Mark 10:21-22).

Are any of these hindering you from following Jesus?