The True Cost of Following Jesus
As Christians, we often focus on the benefits of following Jesus, but we rarely consider the true cost. We talk about the peace, love, and joy that come with being a Christian, but we neglect to mention the sacrifice and obedience required to truly follow Him.
A Call to Radical Obedience
Jesus said, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me” (Matt. 16:24). This is not a call to a life of ease and comfort, but a call to radical obedience. It’s a call to surrender our very lives to follow Jesus, to put off the old self and put on the new.
Abiding in Christ
But before we can truly follow Jesus, we must learn to abide in Him. We must learn to rest in His love and trust in His sovereignty. As Jesus said, “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me” (John 15:4).
Ordinary Obedience
Radical obedience is not just about grand gestures or heroic acts. It’s about ordinary, everyday obedience. It’s about submitting every thought, word, and deed to Christ. It’s about being patient, kind, and compassionate in our daily interactions with others.
The Imperative of Love
The Bible makes it clear that love is the imperative of the Christian life. As Paul wrote, “If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal” (1 Cor. 13:1). Without love, all our efforts at obedience are for nothing.
Faithfulness in Little Things
So how do we cultivate this kind of radical obedience? We start by being faithful in little things. We start by forgiving those who sin against us, loving those who are hard to love, and showing kindness to our neighbors. We start by serving our church in unseen and unappreciated ways.
The Compounding Impact of Our Choices
Every day, we have hundreds of opportunities to put off the old self and put on the new. Every day, we have the chance to choose obedience over disobedience. And the compounding impact of those choices can be staggering.
Conclusion
Following Jesus is not easy. It requires sacrifice, obedience, and a willingness to surrender our very lives to Him. But the reward is worth it. For when we truly follow Jesus, we experience a depth of love, joy, and peace that we never thought possible. So let us take up our cross and follow Him, knowing that He will be with us every step of the way.
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