June 26, 2009
“Then Jesus went to work on his disciples. “Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You’re not in the driver’s seat; I am. Don’t run from suffering: embrace it. Follow me and I will show you how.” Matt. 16:24 The Message
“What does Jesus know about you …?
… that being his follower … his disciple … will cost you and anyone else you know. Jesus knows you will come face to face with truth-filled facts about your life that will be painful. You’ll want to be in charge and lead the way out of your mess. You’ll even try to avoid suffering or pain connected with following Jesus. You’ll confront self-filled and self-willed places in your life that will try to refuse to let Jesus lead. Only Jesus knows what Your Cross really looks like in the world you live in. He knows what it costs and who it will affect. He knows that being His disciple and His follower will run directly into the “Me World” that may even reject you. And still … that did not stop Jesus then or now from calling you to place your life in His Life. And with that will come all the stuff that makes you tick on the inside. You can’t lead … You can only follow. You can bring along your “self” stuff but it will get heavy and begin to rot. You won’t like the smell either because it smells of death. Jesus calls each of us to follow Him today. It begins with a moment … a self-denying … and self-identifying moment with Jesus.
“Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me.” Matt. 16:24 New Living Translation
Ken Chester: Grace-Gripped is sent M-F to Jesus Followers and friends of Priority One (ken@priorityone.org)
