If you refuse to take up your cross and follow me, you are not worthy of being mine. Matthew 10:38

“I’ll give some money and volunteer.” Most people think that’s what God wants out of us.  If we can do that without pain, fine. But Jesus said, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow me.  If you try to hang onto your life, you will lose it” (Matthew 16:24-25).

Following Jesus is a practice of daily surrender.  This could begin with dropping to your knees as you roll out of bed and breathe a prayer of: “Jesus I am yours today.  My day is yours.  Use me.”

Following Jesus involves giving of ourselves to God and others now.  It’s easy to think that when we have more time, more income, more experience–we’ll have enough to give. The Jesus way is exactly the opposite.  “Give, and you will receive,” Jesus said.  “Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap” (Luke 6:38).

Kay Arthur puts it plainly, “If you do not plan to live the Christian life totally committed to knowing your God and to walking in obedience to Him, then don’t begin, for this is what Christianity is all about… If you have no intention of letting Christ rule your life, then forget Christianity; it is not for you.”[1]

 

Resource reading:  Romans 12:1-5

[1] Called to be Committed – 20 Christian Quotes about Commitment. Viral Believer. (2021, October 15). Retrieved January 4, 2022, from https://viralbeliever.com/christian-quotes-about-commitment/