SCRIPTURE: Luke 9:18-27
“If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross daily, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it.” (Luke 9:23-24)
OBSERVATION:
Jesus makes it clear here that following Him is not easy. It may sound glamorous to be the messiah (with cozy administrative posts for his followers), but that is not the case. Jesus will suffer and die, but He will come back to life again. And His followers must also choose between the “good life” now or later. If the problem of sin is a selfish heart, then the solution – and the cross – is to turn away from selfish living. But that is hard. Our sinful nature does what it can to take care of itself, looking out for #1. But the way of Jesus, the way of the kingdom, is the way of selfless love and service of God and others. Ironically, this is how we ultimately save and serve ourselves best. Its one of the many kingdom paradoxes.
APPLICATION:
It does not take long for me to see the selfish ways that are still in me. For me to follow Jesus means that I am choosing to surrender myself, my goals and desires and person comfort for His sake. Its not about me. This is one of the things that I sense is missing from christianity as its come to be understood, and as I live it myself. A crossless christianity, at least the part about us carrying it. We’re glad Jesus did, because its nice to be forgiven and guaranteed heaven. But ths is NOT what following Jesus involves. This is what I got to learn if I want to be a Jesus follower.
PRAYER:
Lord, You were very clear about what it meant to follow You. We are the ones who make it fuzzy. Please help me go beyond reading these words, help me to start today in living them. Amen.
Jesus is the Son of the living God. In Him I have life everlasting. I am His follower. I am His disciple. However, as He said, whoever desires ot follow me must pick up his cross and follow. We are glad to follow when there is no cost, but . . . Not my way Lord, but Your Way/will be done. To be a disciple costs. It is Jesus first in all things, Others second and Yourself last and then I may have JOY in my life. But all too often I put myself first. Lord, help me to see You clearly and lead me and guide me in the Way I should travel each day. It must be less of me and more of You. Help me in my stand of service – learning, living a life of service and loving it because I am a son of the King. Help me in my stance that I am never afraid or ashamed of Whom I serve. May I never blush to speak Your name. Use me Lord, use even me in Your Kingdom building.
Guide me, O Thou great Jehovah,
[or Guide me, O Thou great Redeemer…]
Pilgrim through this barren land.
I am weak, but Thou art mighty;
Hold me with Thy powerful hand.
Bread of Heaven, Bread of Heaven,
Feed me till I want no more;
Feed me till I want no more.
Open now the crystal fountain,
Whence the healing stream doth flow;
Let the fire and cloudy pillar
Lead me all my journey through.
Strong Deliverer, strong Deliverer,
Be Thou still my Strength and Shield;
Be Thou still my Strength and Shield.