Give Up Your Own Way

 Most of us really want to be free to do whatever we want to do. People long for weekends so they can sleep later and spend time just doing what makes them happy. It is a result of selfishness and our independent spirit. However, in order to be a true follower of Jesus, we must give up our own way.

Jesus made this very plain. (Matthew 16:24) He told His disciples that if anyone wanted to be His follower, he must give up his own way, take up his cross, and follow Him. That sound very restrictive until we realize just what Jesus meant.

The truth is that we don't know the right way to go and the right things to do to make our life really fulfilled. When we get our way, we do the wrong things. Even as believers, we might do good things, but Jesus wants us to do what is best for us. He knows that His way will make us really happy, not our way.

Also, we must find what God made us to do, and we must pursue it with all of our heart. That is our cross, just like Jesus did what the Father wanted when He took up His cross. When we fulfill God's purpose for us, we are really living, using all of the gifts and abilities He gave us. Then, we are really following Jesus.

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Tomorrow, I intend to read Matthew 17-19.