What is the cost of
becoming a Christian? We are all happy
to share the benefits that flow from following Jesus Christ, but as Jesus’
words in Luke 9:23-27 make clear to us, there is a significant commitment on
our part that God requires in return.
After telling his disciples that suffering and death were in his near
future, Jesus says, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and
take up his cross daily and follow me.”
The call to discipleship from Jesus begins with a legitimate question:
Knowing what road Jesus is about to walk down, will you choose to follow
him? For the disciples, this was
shocking news that would be very difficult to process, for us, we have the
benefit of looking back on how this time of trail in the end produced the
victory of Easter.
The dark road that Jesus travel to provide redemption for
humanity does end in victory, that assurance offers us great comfort, but the
call from Jesus to imitate his self-denial to the extent of volunteering to
carry our own metaphorical cross still reminds us that the path to Christ-likeness
is never going to be easy. The
self-denial that Jesus is asking us to embrace is in service to the kingdom of
God, which is why the ascetics who practiced the denial of the normal pleasures
of living and isolation were on the wrong path.
If we truly wish to follow in Jesus’ footsteps then we too must serve
the needs of the poor and weak by showing them God’s love and mercy.
As further evidence that this is the road that we must
travel if we wish to follow him, Jesus continues by explaining that only those
who are willing to let themselves be replaced by God as the center of their
life are capable of truly having life.
Those who grasp and clutch at life for themselves will inevitably lose
what they strive after. We can see this
principle at work in the world around us every time we see the reward of love
returned when freely given and at the same time the bankruptcy of selfishness
as the false siren’s call of wealth, fame, and power fails time and time again
to satisfy.
Will you follow Jesus?
The question is asked of us all, only you can decide if you are willing to
make such a commitment.
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