Pastor Robert Forsberg
“Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: ‘If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it.’” (Matthew 16:24-25)
Following Jesus is serious business. Many people don’t realize, that in that following there is danger. The powers of the world will rise up in various ways to seek to influence that following or crush it. There are no stages to following Jesus or halfway steps that please Him. There are not different ranks in His spiritual army. He calls for total commitment. We are all equal followers called to fulfill our unique part in His Body, the Church. That following means stepping out of ourselves and into Christ and receiving His new creation. That following has an Eternal Warranty.
Putting ourselves second to anyone is difficult. Our self is the powerful director of our life. To submit even to God is very difficult and yet that is what we are called to do by our Savior and Lord, Jesus. We are called to let Him reign over our life. We are to desire and trust Him with our life so that we are used for His glory and the good of humankind. Only as we deny ourselves, are we able to do such. May He always reign in our lives from behind the scenes, too out in the open. His will be done with us.
Heavenly Father, we desire and will You to have more, no, all of us for Your glory. Our sin plagues us in this desire but we persist with it. Overwhelm us with Your Spirit to know and do Your will, for You are our Eternal Life. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
