Following Jesus
This morning our men discussed what it means to follow Jesus from Luke 9:23-26. It is a very intriguing passage which is based on a paradox. If our lives are about what we can get for ourselves, we lose. If our lives are about what Jesus wants us to do, we gain real life. The best life is not having everything this world affords, but it is having the favor of the Lord.
Jesus laid down the ground rules for following Him. We do not follow Him part-time; it must be full time. We do not get to set the parameters of what we will do, but we deny ourselves. We are not in control; we take up our own cross and die to self, so we don't get in the way. Then, we can truly follow Him without interruption and without being ashamed.
The choice is up to each of us. We can have this world, or we can have Jesus, but we can't have both. That would be idolatry. The riches of this world are temporary, but His blessings are eternal. What a day it will be to hear Him say that we have done well in following Him and now we can enter into life eternal with Him. For that to happen we live for Him each day, instead of living for ourselves.
Tomorrow, I intend to read II Chronicles 16-18.
Jesus laid down the ground rules for following Him. We do not follow Him part-time; it must be full time. We do not get to set the parameters of what we will do, but we deny ourselves. We are not in control; we take up our own cross and die to self, so we don't get in the way. Then, we can truly follow Him without interruption and without being ashamed.
The choice is up to each of us. We can have this world, or we can have Jesus, but we can't have both. That would be idolatry. The riches of this world are temporary, but His blessings are eternal. What a day it will be to hear Him say that we have done well in following Him and now we can enter into life eternal with Him. For that to happen we live for Him each day, instead of living for ourselves.
Tomorrow, I intend to read II Chronicles 16-18.