The Hard Part of Following Christ!
No one, least of all Jesus, ever said that being a Christian was easy. In fact, we are told over and over again in the New Testament that it is a hard thing. Jesus said that we need to “…take up our cross…” and follow him. For the 21st century individual this analogy is lost on us. Allow me to modernize, “…take up your electrocution chair, your gas chamber, or your lethal injection room and follow me…” A little more graphic now isn’t it.
Jesus goes on to say that following him is more important than even home and family…
As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” Jesus replied, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” He said to another man, “Follow me.” But the man replied, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” Still another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say good-bye to my family.” Jesus replied, “No-one who puts his hand to the plough and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.” – Luke 9:57-62
Is there anything your holding onto that is keeping you from following hard after Christ?
