“Then, calling the crowd to join his disciples, he said, ‘If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me. 35 If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will save it. 36 And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? 37 Is anything worth more than your soul? 38 If anyone is ashamed of me and my message in these adulterous and sinful days, the Son of Man will be ashamed of that person when he returns in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.’” v 34-38 (NLT)
The invitation that Jesus gave to the crowd still applies to us today. Sadly, probably just like the crowd of that day, we try to hang on to parts of our lives and add Jesus to other parts. However, being a follower of Jesus requires us to give up ALL of ourselves for ALL of Jesus. We do this by surrendering our hearts, minds, and actions to Christ. Many times this is easier said than done. When circumstances arise it causes us to respond to them in different ways. Many times its in the response to these circumstances where we find what we are really made of and what we really believe.
Today, how what will the responses to the circumstances you face today say about you? Will they reveal your commitment to and faith in Christ, or will they reveal the unsurrendered parts of your heart, mind, and actions?
Dan Gould 
Leave a comment