Genesis 13:5 Now Lot, who was moving about with Abram, also had flocks and herds and tents. 6 But the land could not support them while they stayed together, for their possessions were so great that they were not able to stay together. 7 And quarreling arose between Abram’s herders and Lot’s. The Canaanites and Perizzites were also living in the land at that time. 8 So Abram said to Lot, “Let’s not have any quarreling between you and me, or between your herders and mine, for we are close relatives. 9 Is not the whole land before you? Let’s part company. If you go to the left, I’ll go to the right; if you go to the right, I’ll go to the left.”

Some things in life are mutually exclusive. You cannot go for both teams in a football game and be a great fan of either. Jesus said it like this in Matthew 6:24, “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.

Greatness requires separation from some things so that you can be separated to other things. Abraham experienced separation from his father and his familiar setting. Now years later, the devotion to God’s promise is still calling him forward. Abraham experienced separation again when Lot left Him.
Some of us suffer from separation anxiety. You live in fear of what following God may cost you. Understand that God is not out to take from you. He is out to give to you, but He cannot give you His future while you’re clinging to the past.

I was reading an article a couple of years ago that was talking about hiking. I learned that if you want go hiking for a day you can feel free to carry as much garb as you’d like. Carry your phone, wear your heavy duty boots, and your backpack full of everything you may need for a day. However, if you’re going to be hiking for a month, you must pack less. Now that is contradictory to what we often think. We think the longer the journey the more stuff I need to carry. But successful hikers know that the farther you travel the more your stuff will wear you down and wear you out.

Let me ask you a question: Are you committed to following Jesus long-term? If so, understand that there are some things you may have to leave behind in order to make it to your destination.

Today’s Challenge: Realize that anything the Lord asks you to lay aside is for your benefit. He is not trying to take things from you. He is trying to get you to the place you can experience greater things from Him. Trust God and travel light.

Blessings,

Greg