Matthew 16:24-26

Then Jesus said to the disciples, "If any of you wants to be my follower, you must put aside your selfish ambition, shoulder your cross, and follow me.  If you try to keep your life for yourself, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for me, you will find true life. (NLT)

When Jesus asks you to follow Him He is asking you to follow Him into something greater than yourself. He did not call you, then leave you here alone. What must you do, what steps must you take? First, you accept the call or the invitation to receive Him as your Savior. Second, is to deny yourself or put aside your selfish ambition and put Jesus first in your life. And third, shoulder your cross, carry your cross or do the part that He has called you to do.

If you live for yourself or try to keep your life you will lose it. You will lose the blessing of that close fellowship with Christ. But if you give up your life, put Christ first and obey His commandments you will find true life -- that life of close fellowship with Him. You will find the person Christ wants you to be and you will find the life that He has for you.

Jesus calls you into something bigger than yourself.

 

Engage the Present – Create the Future – Abiding with Jesus Christ