The Heavenly Father sees our potential, and He lovingly invites us to go a little deeper, to sacrifice a little more and to follow Him more completely, writes Kayla Kaimarama Willie of the Latter-day Saints.

The Gospel of Luke in the New Testament speaks of a rich young ruler who came to the Saviour with a sincere question and asked, “Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” (Luke 18:18). He wasn’t trying to test the Saviour or argue, he genuinely wanted to know how he could return to live with God. After reviewing a long list of commandments this young man had faithfully kept, Jesus offered him something deeper. “Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor ... and come, follow me” (Luke 18:22).

That invitation to “come follow me” was powerful. It was personal - but it came with a cost. The young man was very wealthy. He wasn’t ready to give up his possessions. And as the scriptures teaches, “when he heard this, he was very sorrowful” (verse 23).

The young man’s decision to walk away was heartbreaking not because he asked the wrong question, but because he wasn’t ready to act on the answer.

The Saviour knew this man’s heart and offered him a very personal invitation. He wasn’t judging wealth but was identifying the one thing keeping the young man from fully following Him.

Brothers and sisters, we can reflect on this story by asking ourselves, what is the one thing the Lord might lovingly ask us to give up or change to follow Him

more fully? This could include pride, comfort zones, distractions, fear, or good things that are keeping us from better things. Heavenly Father sees our potential, and He lovingly invites us to go a little deeper, to sacrifice a little more, and to follow Him more completely.

What are some things we can give to follow our Saviour Jesus Christ? It

could be our money, time, talents, and all that we have without expecting anything in return to follow the Saviour.

The young man had done many good things but the Lord wanted to give him something greater: a life of discipleship and eternal joy. That same invitation stands for each of us today.

Like the rich young ruler, the Lord is willing to guide us personally if we are willing to ask and act. The Lord does not expect instant perfection, but He does expect a willing heart.

My dear brothers and sisters, I know that as we humbly ask the question, “What lack I yet?” and take time to ponder and list what comes to mind, the spirit can help us identify things we can let go of so that we can draw closer to Jesus Christ.

I testify that following Jesus Christ even at a personal cost brings inner peace that the world cannot offer us. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.