Matthew 16:24-26 Then Jesus said to his disciples, "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?"
What do these verses mean? Take up my cross? Lose my life? I found the answers! (http://www.gotquestions.org/take-up-your-cross.html) One thing we need to remember when reading this, is that Jesus was speaking these words in the 1st century. This was over 2000 years ago, people! Things were a whole lot different then than they are now! The cross is viewed quite differently these days. We hang it on our living room walls or around our necks to remind us of the great love that Christ has for us. It is a cherished symbol of forgiveness, love, grace, and redemption.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlPN3JzY2lAoDypuv17BBF7xPLK3aK6Mqf9vyHihaHQ6xe8Ye1i3qqoyo53Q38iW6T59dJ1vywdNQbk68BULrf3vkrGkwviDC_88Eex0arNjVCgYybsbQdYOZZfMROty_7K1jBcnGJbyk7/s1600/cross.jpg)
So what can we take from this perspective? What was Jesus trying to tell us in a 1st century setting?? That we must be willing to die to ourselves every day and follow Him. We must be able to let go of everything and anything and go with Him. This is not saying we will have to, but if we come to a place in our life where we are faced with a choice.. will we make the choice to follow Him? There are places in the world where these choices are an every day reality.
"Are you willing to follow Jesus if it means losing your friends, family, job, reputation, or even your life?" Could you give EVERYTHING up? Walk away from everything you have ever known? Your hopes, dreams, comforts, possessions.. leave it all behind to follow Christ?
This is a tough question. But take comfort in knowing the reward is worth the price. Remember...
Matthew 16:27 "For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father's glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done."
No comments:
Post a Comment