IF!

 

Matthew 4: 19,20: Then Jesus said to his disciples, “IF any man will come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross and follow me.”

IF you would follow me.

Jesus has set a very clear path for His followers.  It starts with the decision we must make, to follow Him.  We have read and heard about His lifestyle, do we really want to forsake all else and follow Him? 

Once we have chosen His path, His lifestyle, His love, His mercy, His grace, His promises as our own, then we examine His directions which we must follow to inherit eternal life.

 

Step one, “let him deny himself”.  Oh, what does He mean by that statement?

In the Apostle Paul’s writings, he declares that in order to serve the Lord at his best, he had to

“die” daily, he must deny his desires, wants and even his own comfort at times, to serve his Lord with his best effort. Even so we must put aside our desires, those that would lift up our own egos, our own purposes, and put the work of ‘following’ Jesus our complete effort.

 

Step two, “take up his cross”.  But Jesus bore the cross, died for our sins? 

But there is a cross for each of us to carry in order that we can best serve our Lord to the greatest harvest.  Notice that the Lord indicates that we each have our own, meaning that these crosses we bear are not all the same. Christ bore the cross of redemption, giving His life that all who believe on His Name, Savior, will be saved from wrath and receive eternal life. Our cross is to humble ourselves, become as obedient as our Lord, become as willing to suffer shame, pain, even death if that is what it takes to be His follower, His example on this earth. We are to become ‘living epistles’ read of all men.  It is through our life the world can learn the teaching of Jesus and come out of darkness into His marvelous light.

 

Step three, “follow me”. Walk in His steps!

His path is so clearly lighted by His Word and His example.  Step by step we can see clearly by the guiding power of the Holy Spirit.  Jesus said, I will not leave you alone.  I will send you someone to be a guide, a help, a power that you will overcome the obstacles and temptations which will fall in the path.  But, this power will provide you help, and give you the victory over anything which you might face as you walk in My light.

 

Man’s doctrines obscure the path.

Weeds grow because of neglect and idleness.

We come to cross roads and must make decisions.

But there is a clear light for our path in the Words of Jesus.

He said:

I am the way.

I am the truth.

I am the life.

I am the door.

I am the light there is no darkness in me.

I am the ‘good shepherd’ who will feed, tend, care for my sheep.

Choose to follow Jesus.

The most difficult words you may ever say are, “Not my will, but thing be done”. These simple words from your heart will bring the greatest blessing  you will ever receive, eternal life!