Sometimes that which needs to be left behind is people, people we love but just can’t make the journey with us. Jesus called people to “follow me” and just kept walking. He never stopped to live in their world, no matter what their reasons were for not moving with Him, He never wavered from His destination. As cold as it sounds, Jesus’ reply to someone who wanted to follow Him but instead chose to take care of his elderly parents was, Let the dead bury the dead, emphasized His refusal to be sidetracked by other people’s priorities, needs, or issues (Matthew 8:22). He always stayed true to His course.

Good people with real issues who will not be ready to move when we move surround us all. But as the parable in Luke 14:16-24 points out, people always have excuses for not responding to the call of God today. Those people have every right to live by whatever priorities they choose. But like Jesus, we cannot be hindered, detained, or sidetracked by the priorities or preferences of others.

Rarely will a leader have to choose who to leave behind. People make their own decisions. They don’t deliberately decide to be left behind; they just decide not to walk where we are walking. This doesn’t make them wrong. It just means that our paths have now reached a fork. They will go one way and I will go the other. The real question is not, “Will I leave this person behind.” The real question is rather, “Will I remain true to my calling regardless of who walks with me?” Sometimes that which needs to be left behind is people, people we love but just can’t make the journey with us. Jesus called people to “follow me” and just kept walking. He never stopped to live in their world, no matter what their reasons were for not moving with Him, He never wavered from His destination. As cold as it sounds, Jesus’ reply to someone who wanted to follow Him but instead chose to take care of his elderly parents was, Let the dead bury the dead, emphasized His refusal to be sidetracked by other people’s priorities, needs, or issues (Matthew 8:22). He always stayed true to His course.  (read entire article)