Image via WikipediaOur commitment to Christ must be Total(Mt. 8:19-20)"Then a teacher of the law come to him and said, 'Leader, I will follow you wherever you go.' Jesus replied, 'Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.'"
Following Jesus is not always easy or comfortable. Often it means great cost and sacrifice, with no earthly rewards or security. You may find that following Christ costs you popularity, friendships, leisure time, or treasured habits. But while the cost of following Christ is high, the value of being Christ's disciple is even higher. Discipleship is an investment that lasts for eternity and yields incredible rewards.
Jesus was always direct with those who wanted to follow him. He made sure they counted the cost and set aside any conditions they might have for following him. As God's Son, Jesus did not hesitate to demand complete loyalty. His direct challenge forces us to ask ourselves about our own priorities in following him. Nothing should be placed above a total commitment to living for him.
What does this teach about discipleship, and how is it costing you now?
What true commitment to Christ means
(Jn. 12:25)"The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life."
We must be so committed to living for Christ that we "hate" our lives by comparison. This does not mean that we long to die or that we are careless or destructive with the life God has given us, but that we are willing to die if doing so will glorify Christ. We must disown the tyrannical rule of our own self-centeredness. By laying aside our striving for advantage, security, and pleasure, we can serve God lovingly and freely. Releasing control of our lives and transferring control to Christ brings eternal life and genuine joy.
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