“Jesus said to all of his followers, “If you truly desire to be my disciple, you must disown your life completely, embrace my ‘cross’ as your own, and surrender to my ways. For if you choose self-sacrifice, giving up your lives for my glory, you will discover true life. But if you choose to keep your lives for yourselves, you will lose what you try to keep.”
Luke 9:23-24 TPT
You know how you can tell if you are a follower of Jesus? His ways are taking first place in your life. Not second. And not just when you feel like it.
You desire to know Him more—and by doing so your biggest desire is to please Him. You’re not just adding a little bit of “Jesus” when you’re in trouble, or when someone is ill and needs miraculous healing, or you take time to show up for church on the weekend or at least watch online.
Following Jesus, desiring to be His disciple, isn’t a life of “inserting Jesus here” when you feel like it. No. It’s disowning your life completely and surrendering to His ways.
Really? That doesn’t seem like a life that will please me. And that’s exactly the point! Jesus says you will discover true life when you give up your life for His glory. Not yours! That’s called self-sacrifice.
Jesus goes on to tell us, “if you choose to live for yourself, you will lose what you’re trying to keep.” Hmmmmm…that’s really a no-brainer.
Think about it….when you are putting yourself first—your wants, your ways—you’re gonna lose what you’re trying to keep.
I don’t know about you, but I desire to discover true life. Real. Purposeful. Sacrificial love LIFE! That’s life to the full. Why don’t you join me?
More importantly, why don’t you join Him? He’s waiting for you to discover true life that can only be fulfilled by being His disciple.
