Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what good will it do a person if he gains the whole world, but forfeits his soul? Or what will a person give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and will then repay every person according to his deeds” (Matthew 16:24-27, New American Standard Bible).

Following Jesus will cost you. Salvation is a free gift, but to get the most out of it, we need to clear our lives of the things that will hinder, bind, and restrain the abundant life and conceal the Holy Spirit’s presence in our lives.

Jesus is offering us new life. Do we want to hold onto the old life, or are we willing to cast it aside so we can cling to the life He alone can give?

He offers abundant life. Do we want that, or would we prefer to grasp the world’s fleeting and shallow brand of “abundance”?

Jesus is coming again, and someday He will require our souls. Do we want to offer Him a heart that is in tune with heaven or one that is bonded with the cares and cravings of this world?

Will you take up your cross and follow Jesus?

Copyright © 2023 Michael E. Lynch. All rights reserved.