Jesus
makes it abundantly clear that following Him will cost us something. In fact, He makes it clear that it will cost
everything. In the ancient world, saying
to take up your cross would have been like saying today to strap into the
electric chair. Now, this kind of
absolute call can seem like a romantic notion.
It is the call to dangerous adventure.
There is something deep within us that wants to be called to a life like
this. In fact, that is how God made us.
The
problem is that most of us are cowards. Think
of the movie Braveheart. We like to think of ourselves as the hero,
William Wallace. We are actually more
like the coward and traitor Robert the Bruce.
Perhaps this is why Jesus was so upfront in telling us the cost of following
Him. He does not want us backing out and
claiming that we never knew it would cost so much.
So
are you willing? Are you willing to give
everything to follow Him? Are you ready
to give it all again tomorrow and the next day and the day after that? Are you prepared to follow Him all the way to
Calvary?
Jesus,
it is easy to follow You when I think about how You care for me the way a
shepherd cares for His sheep. Grant me
the grace to follow You even when those around me are shouting, “Crucify!” In Your holy name I pray. Amen.
Copyright © 2013 by Steven R. Perkins
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