The Cost of Following Jesus

“Then Jesus said to his disciples, ‘If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me.’” — Matthew 16:24 (NLT)

Following Jesus was never meant to be convenient. Jesus didn’t say, “Follow Me when it fits your schedule.” He didn’t say, “Follow Me as long as it doesn’t cost you anything.” He said: Give up your own way.
 Take up your cross. 
Follow Me. Those words confront something in every one of us—the desire to remain in control.

Give Up Your Own Way

We like Jesus as Savior, but sometimes struggle with Jesus as Lord. We want Him to bless our plans, open our doors, answer our prayers, and lead us where we already want to go. But discipleship begins when we surrender the right to always have our own way. Sometimes following Jesus means saying: “Lord, this isn’t what I would choose, but I choose You.” That’s surrender.

Take Up Your Cross

The cross wasn’t jewelry when Jesus spoke these words. It represented death. Taking up our cross means dying to the version of ourselves that insists, “I want what I want.” It means dying to pride. Dying to bitterness. Dying to selfish ambition. Dying to the need to control everything. Dying to anything that keeps us from fully obeying Jesus. The cross is uncomfortable because surrender is uncomfortable. But there are some things in us that cannot live if Christ is going to fully lead us.

Follow Me

This is the beautiful part. Jesus isn’t simply asking us to give things up. He’s asking us to follow Him. There is Someone on the other side of our surrender. Jesus. We may not know where the road leads. We may not understand why He allowed a particular season. We may not see how everything is going to work out. But discipleship isn’t having the whole map. It’s trusting the One we’re following.

Maybe today the question isn’t, “Jesus, what are You going to do for me?” Maybe the better question is: “Jesus, what do I need to surrender so I can follow You more faithfully?” Following Jesus will cost us something. But what we surrender to Him will never compare to what we find in Him. Less of my way.
More of His way.
 Take up the cross.
 And keep following Jesus.

Prayer

Jesus, I surrender my plans, my desires, my fears, and my need to control what happens next. Show me anything I am holding onto that keeps me from following You completely. Give me the courage to deny myself, take up my cross, and follow You wherever You lead. Not my way, Lord. Your way. Amen.