Matthew 16:24 English Standard Version

Take Up Your Cross and Follow Jesus

²⁴ Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.

What do you see here?

If we begin with Jesus, then what we see here should begin with what He says. It is extremely important to listen. Here Jesus said this statement to His disciples.

Are we disciples of Christ? If we answer yes, then ask ourselves earnestly if we truly understand what that means. Are we students? If yes, who is our teacher? Those 12 disciples sat at the feet of Jesus and knew Him face to face? Do we know Him face to face? Can we see Him, listen to Him, believe Him, obey Him, or are we relying on some human entity to tell us what to think and how to act?

Is being a disciple a personal identity or is it a discipline? Have we explored our personal identity in Christ adequately enough to know if we are even asking the right questions? A student that does not ask relevant questions is not participating in their own education.

The second question here is a personal challenge. Would we come after Jesus? While it is a choice, what do we see in that choice? Do we see Him as our teacher, our Lord, our Savior, our friend, or connection to a better life? He said He is the Way, the Truth and the Life. The first Christian were called Way followers, is that what we are in following Christ? Do we understand the Way? Do we know the Way?

The same goes for Truth and Life? Before we make this choice, do we know what we are asking of ourselves? Have we understood what is being asked of us in the quest to follow Jesus?

Do we know what we are getting ourselves into by saying yes?

2 Samuel 15:4 English Standard Version (ESV) Then Absalom would say, “Oh that I were judge in the land! Then every man with a dispute or cause might come to me, and I would give him justice.”

Do you know the tale of Absalom? This is King David’s son. The inherent danger here is not in hopes of replacing his father on the throne but in becoming godlike just as Eve had done. She ate of the fruit of self-promotion and Absalom has followed in her steps.

The real danger here for all of us is not that much different. Knowing right does not make us right. The knowledge of right does not make us the judge of anyone. Right in the hands of those without wisdom to use that knowledge places all in danger of abuses.

If you know the tale of Absalom then you know he ordered his servants to kill his brother Amnon. Yes Amnon did wrong but that did not give Absalom the right to play God. What happened is closer to a kind of satanic fall. First Absalom hated his brother and then acted on it.

Our command from our Lord is to love one another and it is really hard to love one another if we go about judging every little thing we see. The inherent danger in fellowship is that as people open up to one another we will discover things we either disagree with or see as dangerous thoughts.

Seeing dangerous thoughts need to be addressed but must be addressed with wisdom not judgment.

What are dangerous thoughts?

For the sake of fellowship in Christ they should be seen as opposing the gospel and endangering the salvation of the innocent.

Having differing opinions about politics are not dangerous thoughts unless there is a proposed action to limit the rights in freedom of worship.

Wisdom must be used to approach dangerous thoughts because judgment does not sway them.