TAKE UP YOUR CROSS

Do you want to follow Jesus?

Not everyone does.

Read the Gospels: Tens of thousands of people were drawn to Jesus, but only a few hundred at most became his apprentices.

Many were genuinely drawn to Jesus (how could you not be?), but they were not willing to commit to a life of apprenticeship. They made excuses like “First let me go and bury my father” (Luke 9:59). This was a first-century way of saying, “Let me wait until my parents die so I can get the family inheritance and be independently wealthy; then I’ll come follow you.” Another excuse? “I will follow you, Lord, but first let me go back and say goodbye to my family” (verse 61). Meaning, give me a little more time before I commit.

That’s what many of us do: We delay, we seesaw, we make excuses. Like going on a diet or getting in shape or organizing our closet, we procrastinate: “I’ll do it later.” But later rarely comes.

And what did Jesus say? “Let the dead bury their own dead” (verse 60).

That sounds unkind to our modern ears, but it wasn’t; it was just blunt. Jesus was saying, “You can do that, but if you choose that path, it will lead you to death, not life.”

You see, Jesus did not beg or manipulate or bully. Coercion is not a fruit of the Spirit. He didn’t strong-arm or offer a sales pitch; he just invited. And when people balked or made excuses . . .

He let them walk away.

Can you imagine saying no to Jesus’ invitation?

I can.

If you live long enough, you will inevitably turn down an invita­tion you later regret. I have. Thankfully, I can think of only a few opportunities in my life thus far where, in hindsight, I royally missed it. But to this day, when they come to mind, I grieve my decisions.

You have an invitation before you to become an apprentice of Jesus.

What will you say?

What invitations do you sense Jesus making to your heart and life? Has the Spirit of Jesus stirred your heart toward something? Have you followed through? What could you do today to say yes to Jesus’ invitations?