Against the Crowd
Then Jesus said to His disciples, “if anyone wishes to follow Me [as My disciple], he must deny himself [set aside selfish interests], and take up his cross [expressing a willingness to endure whatever may come] and follow Me [believing in Me, conforming to My example in living and, if need be, suffering or perhaps dying because of faith in Me].
For whoever wishes to save his life [in this world] will [eventually] lose it [through death], but whoever loses his life [in this world] for My sake will find it [that is, life with Me for all eternity]. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world [wealth, fame, success], but forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?
For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory and majesty of His Father with His angles and then He will repay each one in accordance with what he has done. “I assure you and most solemnly say to you, there are some of those standing here who will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in His Kingdom.”
Matthew 16: 24-28 AMP
More than a Decision
Choosing to follow Jesus is not just a decision to say that you are a part of something. Choosing to follow Jesus is a conscience decision that is made every day. It is a daily battle against ourselves and the world around us.
If following Jesus was truly that simple, everyone would do it. Who does not want to be saved?
The world that we live in today has made Jesus be something that He is not. Though He is accepting of sinners, He is not accepting of sin. A sinner has the ability to repent-turning away from whatever wickedness they were participating in. As to sin, it does not. Sin is sin and there is no way around it.
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 6:23 ESV
Sin is everything that is displeasing to God and that He hates. By reading the Bible we can discover what is displeasing to Him. Another way of knowing what sin is, is by asking God to show you.
The Holy Spirit was given by Jesus to guide us and help us navigate through life.
DISCLAIMER: Just because you choose Jesus does not mean you will be perfect but it does mean that you have allowed God to work in you and through you.
Making a mistake is very different from sinning. A mistake is accidental as to sin, it is done consciences knowing that it is wrong. If the mistake is displeasing to God, the Holy Spirit will convict you to guide you back to righteousness but it will NOT condemn you.
If guilt and condemnation come, it is an attack from the enemy to distract you and discourage you!
Pick Up Your Cross
What does “Pick up your Cross and follow Me” mean?
As the amplified version of the Bible expresses, it is a ‘willingness to endure whatever’ comes your way. It is walking in a different direction from the crowd. Learning to stand up for the morality that was and is established by God. It is standing up against society and poplar opinions. Be who Jesus called you to be.
It means that some seasons in life will be very difficult to the point of unbearable but there will also be seasons where we get to see the fruit and experience their sweetness. Through every season, as long as we hold onto Jesus, all is possible.
Pray about it
Don’t worry about anything; instead pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6-7 NLT
To the world living in Christ is losing your life. Choosing not to partake in immorality is not losing your life. It is not “missing out in fun”. It is not “being left out”. What it really is, is choosing to pick up your cross and follow Jesus. Going against your flesh and the desires of your heart is picking up your cross and following Jesus.
Did you know that Jesus did not want to pick up the cross?
And after going a little farther, He fell face down and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it is possible [that is, consistent with your will], let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will.”
Matthew 26:39 AMP
Do you think Jesus deserved to suffer and carry all of our sins.
Do you think that it was easy to suffer the way Jesus did but above all spiritually carrying every single one of our sins. The depth of our sins is by far greater and heavier than what He physically suffered.
The Depth of Our Sins
And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice saying, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
Matthew 27:46 ESV
He chose to pick up His cross suffer physically to then suffer spiritually.
When Jesus asked God why He had forsaken Him, it was because of you and I. It was because Jesus Christ was carrying the sin of the world! Every single disgusting sin. He was carrying and nailing it to the cross so that you and I may get the opportunity to reconcile to the Lord, God.
God cannot have anything to do with sin. So when Jesus was carrying our sins, God could not be part of Him. God is Holy! He is so Holy and Pure that it does not make sense to us.
But just think, for that moment, for that moment in time Jesus chose to disconnect himself from God to save you and I from the ultimate punishment, eternal death so that we can become sons and daughters of God’s Kingdom.
What King does that?!
His Love
The world has time and time again misused “Jesus loves you/me”. So much so that the world does not acknowledge that God truly gave His life for them so that they may live free from sin and brokenness.
His love is so beyond us that He literally stepped down from His kingdom -when He did not have to- in order to carry our sins, be disconnected from God so that you and I may get the opportunity to choose to follow Him. To choose to live a life for Him, sharing the Good News of how much He loves us.
You see, it is not just about saying that ‘I follow Jesus’ it is much more.
To follow Jesus is to be like Jesus. Our actions must reflect Jesus.
The time has come to stop being lukewarm. It is time to stop putting God to the side.
It is time to surrender, repent-turn away from your sins and follow Jesus.
Only He can take away your hurt, sickness, depression, anxiety, etc. . .
Because He already left it all on the cross!
He rose from the dead in VICTORY! He defeated death, sin and all of our enemies!
Stop fighting this battle alone, it is not yours to fight.
Choose Jesus, He has already won!
Letter 11 -Why Jesus? Jesus Is Why!-
