Matthew 8:18-22 ESV Now when Jesus saw a crowd around him, he gave orders to go over to the other side. And a scribe came up and said to him, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” Another of the disciples said to him, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.”And Jesus said to him, “Follow me, and leave the dead to bury their own dead.”
Somewhere along the way, the modern American Christian somehow began to believe that praying the sinner’s prayer should earn one an easy life. Perhaps modern American politics has something to do with it. These days, politicians promise ever increasing goodies to get our vote. So maybe people think if they give God “their vote,” then He is obligated to provide them with health, prosperity, comfort, and a life free of problems.
The Bible, however, says something completely different. Jesus promises that those who follow God will have troubles (John 16:33). If you read about the lives of the New Testament saints, you will find that in every case, they paid a price for their faith. The vast majority of the people in the Old Testament as well, though there were a very few exceptions.
In the passage above Jesus clearly and directly points out that there is a cost to being His disciple. To one man he pointed out that he would have to sacrifice comfort. He told another that he would have to give up control of his life.
Obeying God is not always comfortable. Many Christian beliefs are now considered intolerant or even hateful by society. The very idea that man is sinful and needs a Savior is repugnant to many Americans. To claim that Jesus is the only way to God “proves” that we do not tolerate other beliefs in the view of society. If we choose to believe the Bible and live according to God’s commands, we need to be prepared to take stands that are unpopular and may cost us in numerous ways.
When we make Jesus the Lord of our life, that means we give Him control. We lose the “right” to determine our life’s agenda. The Bible calls us to be living sacrifices (Romans 12:1), which means we surrender our lives to God. We live by His rules, do things in His timing, and make choices based on His will.
Back in the ’80s, there were T-shirts and posters printed with the phrase, “Christianity is not for Wimps!” That is true. To live the Christian life as it is presented in the Bible takes courage and conviction. It is a life of self-discipline and self-denial.
Christianity is also a life of inner peace, joy, and security. We sacrifice the things that are fleeting to gain the things that are eternal. We deny ourselves what is ultimately meaningless to gain true riches. We surrender the freedom to navigate an uncertain future on our own to follow a path guided by the One who is completely sovereign and holds the future in His hand.
Following Jesus may not be easy, but I fully believe it is worth it. As for me and my family, we will serve the Lord (Joshua 24:14-15).
Heavenly Father, I have, and continue, to surrender my life to You. You are the Lord of my life. I will follow where You lead and obey what You command. At times this decision has cost a high price, but what I have paid pales in comparison to what I have received. I have no idea what it will cost me in the future, but I pray You will empower me to keep the faith no matter what.