Lay It All Down

Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return of his soul? - Matthew 16:24 - 26

The idea of denying ourselves and taking up our cross can be unsettling. What are we willing to lay down to follow Jesus? Are we willing to take up the cross, just as he did and follow him? Are we willing to detach ourselves from the world to walk with him?

These are questions we must ask ourselves to move forward. I saw a video the other day that really put into perspective the reality of Christianity and being a true follower of Christ. There were two paths, one was a wide road filled with thousands of people, packed and walking under a large, beautifully built sign that said, “I believe in God.” To the left, above the crowd was a small dirt path with only a few people walking past a little wooden sign that read “I Obey God.”

What a powerful representation of Matthew 7:13.

Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.
 
To add a touch of personal testimony, I did not always have this perspective. I walked on the wide path for a very long time. I read the scriptures, but there was always a justification for the things that I was not willing to let go of and there are still many things that the Lord is showing me in my personal life and in my family that still need to be laid down. It isn’t easy, and death hurts, but there is a willingness to be obedient to the Lord, because the promise that will follow by walking in obedience, and not simply believing in God is worth far more than anything this world can give me.

Are you willing to lay it all down for the sake of Christ. Are you willing to let go of the things of the world? I want to encourage you to search your heart. Ask the Lord if there are any areas of your life that are keeping you on the wide path. The narrow path isn’t pretty or flashy, it is hard, but it leads to life.

Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting! – Psalm 139: 23-24