How to Follow Jesus

Imagine hearing these words the first time Jesus spoke them: "If anyone would come after me, he must..."

Oh! Good! He's giving us directions on how to be a Christian! He's going to spell it out! How many times have I wanted clear-cut instructions on how to live...

"...deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me."

Oh. Wow. That's not quite what I expected... So you are saying each day I need to walk like I'm willing to suffer and die?

"For whoever wants to save his life will loose it..."

So no more self-preservation? No more saving face? No more walls of protection, safety-at-a-distance, "I don't want to get hurt"?

"...but whoever looses his life for me will save it."

That sounds extreme... but enticing, somehow... Complete abandon, complete surrender, and a willingness to loose everything. Ouch. Can I really live like that? (God, give me the strength!)

The other option is to loose my life in the end, despite all my efforts to preserve it. Futile living. So the self-preservation route doesn't end with all my dreams coming true, happiness and security, no bumps in the road, and everything like I want it to be? Wait a sec... who on this earth has ever had that kind of life? Seriously... a pain free life? Is that what I think I can achieve? Is that really an option here on this earth? What a lie!

The moment we opened the door for sin to enter, pain entered. So I need to face the fact that "In this world, you will have trouble." (But take heart! Jesus has overcome the world!) I need to stop thinking that I can safely stay in my little bubble of protection and comfort and everything will be alright. I must deny myself (fast, pray, serve, love), take up my cross daily (even when it hurts), and follow Jesus.