The Call to Follow Jesus: Luke 9:23-27
“23) And He was saying to them all, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me. 24) For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake, he is the one who will save it. 25) For what is a man profited if he gains the whole world, and loses or forfeits himself? 26) For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when He comes in His glory, and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. 27) But I say to you truthfully, there are some of those standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God.”” Luke 9:23-27
Jesus went to the cross to save us, we need to take up our cross to serve Him. It means that our selfish goals and ambitions end so that we can give ourself to His will and purpose through us in the world.
We either live for Him or we live for self. We either walk in the Spirit or we walk in the flesh. We either promote Him or we promote self. We either openly identify with Him or we deny that we know Him.
Whatever part of our life we set aside for Him, we gain much more. When we selfishly cling to our own goals, dreams and ambitions we forfiet His will and kingdom.
Years ago as a young man, I had dreams of going to trade school and opening a wood working shop or being a carpenter. I was already actively sharing my faith and preaching in numerous churches.
One day, my pastor approached me with an application for Bible College. I said I wasn’t interested, I was going to a trade school. He then asked me very directly; “What would God have you do with your life?”
As I wrestled with God over my future, Jesus quietly said to me; “Terry, I have an abundant life for you if you follow me! If you compare your plans for your life with my plans for your life, yours are so much smaller than mine. Where you write a word, I will write a sentence. Where you write a sentence, I will write a paragraph. Where you write a paragraph, I will write an entire chapter. Where you might write a chapter about your own plans, I will write a book. Where you might write a book, I would write volumes of books”
That ended my wrestling. I yielded to God and headed down a radically different path and prepared for a life of ministry. It has been a tsunami that has carried me around the world. God is so good! I confess, by comparison my plans for my life were so small.
So what about you. How are you going to approach this day, this week and this month? They add up fast. Are you going to selfishly live for self or put God and others first? The two outcomes will be radically different!
Daily Bible Commentary By Terry Baxter: Cofounder of GoServ Global
“23) And He was saying to them all, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me. 24) For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake, he is the one who will save it. 25) For what is a man profited if he gains the whole world, and loses or forfeits himself? 26) For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when He comes in His glory, and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. 27) But I say to you truthfully, there are some of those standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God.”” Luke 9:23-27
Jesus went to the cross to save us, we need to take up our cross to serve Him. It means that our selfish goals and ambitions end so that we can give ourself to His will and purpose through us in the world.
We either live for Him or we live for self. We either walk in the Spirit or we walk in the flesh. We either promote Him or we promote self. We either openly identify with Him or we deny that we know Him.
Whatever part of our life we set aside for Him, we gain much more. When we selfishly cling to our own goals, dreams and ambitions we forfiet His will and kingdom.
Years ago as a young man, I had dreams of going to trade school and opening a wood working shop or being a carpenter. I was already actively sharing my faith and preaching in numerous churches.
One day, my pastor approached me with an application for Bible College. I said I wasn’t interested, I was going to a trade school. He then asked me very directly; “What would God have you do with your life?”
As I wrestled with God over my future, Jesus quietly said to me; “Terry, I have an abundant life for you if you follow me! If you compare your plans for your life with my plans for your life, yours are so much smaller than mine. Where you write a word, I will write a sentence. Where you write a sentence, I will write a paragraph. Where you write a paragraph, I will write an entire chapter. Where you might write a chapter about your own plans, I will write a book. Where you might write a book, I would write volumes of books”
That ended my wrestling. I yielded to God and headed down a radically different path and prepared for a life of ministry. It has been a tsunami that has carried me around the world. God is so good! I confess, by comparison my plans for my life were so small.
So what about you. How are you going to approach this day, this week and this month? They add up fast. Are you going to selfishly live for self or put God and others first? The two outcomes will be radically different!
Daily Bible Commentary By Terry Baxter: Cofounder of GoServ Global
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