Luke 9:23-27
Find a place and time free of distractions for the next 7-10 minutes. Take a moment to settle into your surroundings and then begin to recognize your breath. As you breathe in, call on the name of Jesus and become aware of his presence with you. As you breathe out, open your mind and heart to receive whatever Jesus has for you today.
Recall that Jesus has just revealed that he will be rejected and killed but will rise again. Then read Luke 9:23-27 noting anything that stands out to you.
A crowd has gathered within earshot of Jesus, so he turns from his disciples and gives a clear explanation of what it means to follow him. He does not invite people to come and have all of their desires fulfilled, and he does not say that self-actualization will be achieved if a person chooses his way. He says that following him involves giving up everything – even life itself.
Jesus doesn’t mince words. His audience doesn’t have the benefit of hindsight when he talks about picking up the cross. He is still alive and well at this point, so the allusion to a Roman instrument of execution is a visceral image that underscores his meaning. Jesus is drawing the proverbial line in the sand.
Stop to imagine yourself listening to Jesus as he describes what it means to follow him. Let his words sink in and notice your reactions.
“If [you want] to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it.”
Share your thoughts and feelings honestly with him.
Read Luke 9:23-27 again with all of this in mind.
The Greek word translated in this passage as “ashamed” indicates someone who has bought into the wrong ideology. It’s the ultimate shame of choosing a false way of life, and again Jesus delivers a clear message:
How will it do you or anyone else any good if you never recognize that your view of reality is distorted? What if you never discover that your vision is skewed and you need Jesus to remove the “veil” from your eyes so you can see clearly? What will happen if all of your misshapen desires are met but you die never understanding what you really need?
Focus for a while on Jesus’ question: “…what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but are yourself lost or destroyed?”
Jesus’ message is not just a message of sacrifice and loss - it’s a promise of great gain. Those who choose the way of Jesus will find life that is true, meaningful, and beneficial both for the individual and for the world. The way of Jesus is the way of the Kingdom of God, and God’s Kingdom is not a far-off realm; it’s with everyone who chooses to lay down their distorted ideas about life so they can see with Jesus’ eyes.
What do you sense Jesus inviting you to do or do differently today?
How will you respond?
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The Everyday Jesus Follower’s Guide ebook can help you learn how to recognize God's voice, how to read and understand the Bible, how to develop deep spiritual friendships, and how to become the person you were meant to be. Use it alone, with a friend or in a small group.
