“Those who do not take up their cross and follow in my steps are not fit to be my disciples. Those who try to gain their own life will lose it; but those who lose their life for my sake will gain it.” Matthew 10:38-39 (TEV)
Will we be loyal to our fears or loyal to Jesus?
Jesus says we should understand this: if we fear we will lose out on life by following him, the truth is we will lose it all anyway, and at the same time, we will lose out on the real, kingdom life we’re searching for.
On the other hand, if we abandon our fears and follow him, Jesus will lead us into the kingdom of heaven, where we will find the life we always hoped for.
It is a very practical decision unless you’re trapped in the kind of fallen thinking that tells us disposable things and temporary relationships are the end all and be all of the universe.
When someone argues that following Jesus is impractical, it shows they do not have a clue about the kingdom of heaven. “The Message that points to Christ on the Cross seems like sheer silliness to those hell-bent on destruction, but for those on the way of salvation it makes perfect sense,” says the Apostle Paul. (1 Corinthians 1:18 MSG)
When we suggest the commands of Jesus are impractical or unrealistic, we show our own ignorance about the kingdom of heaven
And so Jesus comes with his eye on the Final Judgment. With the cross, Jesus brings peace, notes Bonhoeffer. “But the cross is the sword God wields on earth.” The Word of God is “sharp as a surgeon’s scalpel, cutting through everything, whether doubt or defense, laying us open to listen and obey.” (Hebrews 4:12 MSG) Jesus slices across our loyalties, demanding that we chose him as the priority.
By Jon Walker
