Worthy of Jesus - None of Self and All of Thee

“He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.” (Matthew 10:38 NKJV)

    Over the past several weeks we have looked at what it means to:

• let go of the past (parental teaching/religion) if it isn’t according to God’s truth
• look to the future by helping your children to seek God first and foremost in their lives
• deny your own self and be fully committed to obeying God, willing to make any changes needed to be right in His sight
• take up your cross by committing yourself so wholly to following Jesus that you do not return to your former life (ideas, notions, practices, etc.)  

    If you are content to simply know what you have always known, do what you’ve always done; if you are willing to surrender your leadership to your children’s wishes, wants, and desires without regard for where their wants may lead them, if you are unwilling to deny even yourself (your own self-centered wants, wishes, and desires) nor commit yourself wholly to following Jesus for life, then Jesus says that you are not worthy of Him. If you are doing these things you aren’t following Jesus – you aren’t even on His pathway – you’re creating your own (Romans 10:2-3) and man-made pathways will never get you to heaven (Proverbs 14:12, 16:25, Matthew 7:21-23).

    Instead, let us have a disposition like Paul, who willingly submitted to God’s truth when He heard it, and followed Jesus’ path:

“I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20 NKJV)

    Paul took up his cross, died to selfish interests and pursuits, and used his time and ability to magnify Christ in all he did. He declared God’s greatness, he spoke the gospel Truth and he lived by it! When we read some of Paul’s epistles (consider Philippians) we quickly come to realize the joy he truly felt, even though in prison, even though nearing physical death; Paul was overjoyed in following Christ and being faithful to God and obedient to His commands. That is why he kept telling others about Jesus, no matter where he found himself!

    We can do what Paul did! He encouraged us all to do just that when he wrote “Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1).

    Are you ready and willing to trust God enough to let go and follow Jesus? Are you ready to let conviction win over convenience? Are you prepared to love your children enough to love Jesus more? To guide them by example to always seek first the kingdom of God (Matthew 6:33)? Are you pleased to put God ahead of yourself, take up your cross never to return to your former, sinful ways, and commit yourself wholly to following Jesus through study and practice (James 1:25)? Then you are worthy of Christ!!

You can do it!! So can I!!

From wherever you are right now – BEGIN!!  

 

Taking Up Your Cross Requires Endurance

“…he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.” (Matthew 10:38 NKJV)

    We spoke last week of what it means to take up your cross: committing yourself wholly to Christ, understanding you will never return to your former life.

    While under Roman rule people would have watched those carrying their crosses to the place of crucifixion. Some, without pity, would have mocked and ridiculed those who were bearing their burden. When Jesus instructs us to take up our cross and follow Him we understand that in following Him we will be mocked just as He was (Mark 15:16-20), ridiculed just as He was (Mark 15:29-32), and hated just as He was (John 15: 18-21), and still we will continue to follow Him.

“I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world. Just as I am not of the world.” (John 17:14 NKJV)

    The world will judge you and criticize you for following Jesus, because in following Him you are no longer living “in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God”(1 Peter 4:2). Those who happily accompanied you in your former activities will “think it strange that you do not run with them in the same flood of dissipation” (1 Peter 4:4, read verse 3 for definition of dissipation), and then what will they do? They will speak evil of you; they will mock you and your cross, they will ridicule you simply because you have chosen a different – and better – way.

    Jesus endured it and so can you (Matthew 10:22)! Jesus has already walked the path we are on. He knows and He understands (Hebrews 4:14-15)!

“…when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable to God. For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow in His steps: “Who committed no sin, nor was any deceit found in His mouth”; who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously; who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we , having died to sins, might live for righteousness – by whose stripes you were healed.” (1 Peter 2:21-24 NKJV)

    Jesus left us a perfect example of how to endure suffering at the hands of the world (consider also Matthew 5:44-48), and not only that but He gave His very life in obedience to the Father so that we who have died to sins (Romans 6:1-14), having taken up our cross to follow Him, might live for righteousness!

    To be worthy of Christ you must be willing to die to sin and live for righteousness – Jesus provided all we need to do exactly that! He provided the means through fulfilling God’s plan (Matthew 1:21, Romans 6:22-23, John 17:4, 19:30), He left us an example to follow, and He is ready and able to help us as we walk in His steps (Hebrews 4:16, John 14:6, 1 Timothy 2:5-6)!!

    God has provided all through Jesus. Be willing to take up your cross and follow Him, be willing to do whatever is necessary to be worthy of Him – no matter what the world says – trust God and continue to follow Jesus!!

You can do it!! So can I!!

Want to Be Worthy of Jesus? Take Up Your Cross

“…he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.” (Matthew 10:38 NKJV)

    Taking up one’s cross was a significant and instantly understood concept in Jesus’ time. Under Roman rule, death by crucifixion became a terrifying reality for those convicted; when one had to take up his own cross it was known by all that he would not be coming back.

    Jesus tells us that if we are not willing to take up our cross and follow Him, we are not worthy of Him.

    Are you willing to take up your cross, turn away from your former life, never to return to it, to follow Jesus?

“No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” (Luke 9:62 NKJV)

    Jesus wants us to commit wholly to Him. He wants us to have a willingness to die to self, to die to the world and its ways, to “put to death the old man of sin” (Colossians 3:9-10, Ephesians 4:22-24, Romans 6:3-8), and walk in newness of life (Romans 6:4) by carefully following His example in righteousness and obedience (Ephesians 5:1-21, 1 Peter 2:21-24, 1 John 2:3-6).

“”But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him.” But we are not of those who draw back to destruction, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul.” (Hebrews 10:38-39 NKJV)

    If you are still considering the cost of following Christ, if you are still trying to figure a way to keep a foot in the world while ‘exploring’ a life with Christ, I beg you to let go and simply trust that God’s way IS the best way. What He has in store for His children in this life and beyond this life is SO much better than anything the world could ever offer us! God’s way is lasting and eternal, the world can only offer momentary pleasure – don’t forfeit your soul for a moment’s pleasure – find lasting peace, contentment, and joy in following Christ! Let today be the day!! 

    If you have taken up your cross and are following Christ – keep going! Don’t look back! What is ahead of you is SO much better than anything you left behind! Do all that is necessary to stay the course, keep your hand to the plow, and walk worthy of Christ! We are not of those who look back nor draw back to the old ways that lead to destruction. Let’s keep pressing forward, growing in resolve to follow Jesus!!

You can do it! So can I!

 From wherever you are right now – BEGIN!