The invitation of Jesus to follow Him is nothing less than radical.
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Jesus began His famous invitation in Mark 8:34 saying, “If anyone wants to follow me…” Do you want to follow Jesus? If so, why? What does it look like to actually follow this Rabbi who has ascended back to Heaven?
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“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.” – Matthew 7:24-27, CSB
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The invitation continues with a call to deny self and take up one’s cross. This is far from comfortable. Does it mark your life and discipleship under Jesus? How prone are we to forget that the way of Jesus is to deny ourselves and take up a cross, no longer living for our own agenda, desires, or comforts? What does this look like in 2025 America?
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“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” – Galatians 2:20, CSB
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All of this begs the question of why we would follow Jesus in the way of denying ourselves and taking up a cross. He gave the brilliantly logical reasoning right there with the invitation in verses 35-36: “For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of me and the gospel will save it. For what does it benefit someone to gain the whole world and yet lose his life?” It is often difficult to think about or see beyond what is immediate, but we will ultimately face death. Then what? Resurrection will follow, and that begs the question of a resurrection to what? The good news, or gospel, is that all who trust in Christ for salvation through His own self denial, death, and resurrection will be saved!
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“Do not be amazed at this, because a time is coming when all who are in the graves will hear his voice and come out—those who have done good things, to the resurrection of life, but those who have done wicked things, to the resurrection of condemnation.” – John 5:28-29, CSB
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Life Application:
Take a moment to consider what your highest goals and dreams are. Hold them against the backdrop of death and the age to come, asking God to help you refine or revise what needs to be.
For Prayer:
Ask God to help His church around the world that is suffering in much more pronounced ways as they take up their crosses and follow Him.