Then he said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross daily, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but are yourself lost or destroyed? If anyone is ashamed of me and my message, the Son of Man will be ashamed of that person when he returns in his glory and in the glory of the Father and the holy angels. I tell you the truth, some standing here right now will not die before they see the Kingdom of God” (Luke 9:23-27).
Turn from your selfish ways. What great advice for the disciples and what great advice for us today. The disciples did not quite get this lesson the first time they heard it, just as we struggle to overcome our own selfish tendencies day after day.
Then his disciples began arguing about which of them was the greatest. But Jesus knew their thoughts, so he brought a little child to his side. Then he said to them, “Anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me also welcomes my Father who sent me. Whoever is the least among you is the greatest” (Luke 9:46-48).
I had to laugh when I came across these verses. Just this morning, I was participating in some friendly banter with my husband and his fellow Cubs fans. It seems obvious to me which team is the best 🙂 yet every year the Cardinals and Cubs fans spend hours arguing over which is the better team. Now this rivalry between sports teams is all in fun and simply a part of the American culture, but what Jesus is warning us about here is our own tendency to think too highly of ourselves.
Before you dismiss this thought too quickly, take time to allow the Holy Spirit to remind you of the last time you assessed someone before really getting to know them. We often judge others by their appearance or their financial situation or their family heritage. This mindset of considering ourselves to be better than other people can and will get in the way of us truly following Jesus.
We cannot pick and choose WHERE we go if we are sincerely following Jesus wherever He is at work.
We cannot pick and choose WHO we minister to if we are sincerely following Jesus to whomever He is leading us to.
We cannot pick and choose WHAT we do if we are sincerely following Jesus doing what He wants us to do.
We cannot pick and choose WHEN we follow Jesus so that it only fits into our schedule where it is convenient, giving Jesus only our leftover time.
As they were walking along, someone said to Jesus, “I will follow you wherever you go.”
But Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens to live in, and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place even to lay his head.”
He said to another person, “Come follow me.”
The man agreed, but he said, “Lord, first let me return home and bury my father.”
But Jesus told him, “Let the spiritually dead bury their own dead! Your duty is to go and preach about the Kingdom of God.”
Another said, “Yes, Lord, I will follow you, but first let me say good-bye to my family.”
But Jesus told him, “Anyone who puts a hand to the plow and then looks back is not fit for the Kingdom of God.” – Luke 9:57-62
This song from the late 1800’s came to my mind this morning and I sang it asking the Holy Spirit to reveal in me any moments or attitudes that contradict the testimony of the song. This is a song of commitment, a song of turning from selfish ways to a complete surrender.
I have decided to follow Jesus; I have decided to follow Jesus; I have decided to follow Jesus; no turning back, no turning back.
The world behind me, the cross before me; the world behind me, the cross before me; the world behind me, the cross before me; no turning back, no turning back.
Though none go with me, still I will follow; though none go with me, still I will follow; though none go with me, still I will follow; no turning back, no turning back.