Strong spirits: if
Usually we want to be the ones setting the conditions.
How decisive are you? You may be more decisive than you realize...
Every day we are making decisions: where I will go; what I will do; what I will eat; who I will spend time with; what I will wear. We make lots of decisions on the fly, without a lot of thought. The bigger ones take some deliberation...
Jesus highlights his call to us to be his disciples with a very small word : "if".
"If you want to come with me, you must forget yourself, take up your cross every day, and follow me. For if you want to save your own life you will lose it, but if you lose your life for my sake, you will find it." (Luke 9:23)
Hard words. Big decision. Many of his followers dropped out. Many today do the same. We want to be the ones setting the conditions: "I'll follow you Lord IF..." He insists it is the other way...
There will be struggles. There will be tears. It will be hard. But he also promises it will be worth it. A lot is hanging on a very small word.
Gary Schwerin serves as pastor at Caledonia Congregational Church. He is also the Spiritual Development Minister for the YMCA of the Rock River Valley and Executive Director of Bridge Ministries of Rockford. Prior to launching Bridge Ministries, Gary spent many years in leadership with Young Life. His columns appear here every Sunday - to see them all, subscribe to our daily email.
You can also watch short videos from Gary on Facebook.
