Pick Up Your Cross and Follow the King

24 Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 25 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. 26 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Mt 16:24–26). (2016). Crossway Bibles.

Ohio is full of people who are trying to gain the world. Now, most likely, the people in our communities aren’t angling for global domination…they’re probably really nice people who are just trying to get a little more money, a little more pleasure, a little more power.
How should we respond to this?

First, we have to recognize that we are impacted by our time and place. Jesus calls us to deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Him. The world calls us to prioritize our own needs and desires…to pursue more money, more pleasure, and more power…and the world is really effective in this temptation. Thus, we must daily resolve to follow the Lord - not the world.

Second, we have to remember our mission to the world. Given the first point, there is a temptation to isolate ourselves from the world. We can end up in a place where we do not know or have a close relationship with any non-Christians. We can end up in a place where we rarely, if ever, share the Gospel with a non-Christian.

This is not the way of Jesus. This is not the way of self-denial and cross-carrying to which He calls us. Following Jesus includes proclaiming Jesus to a lost and dying world.
So, let’s pick up our crosses and follow the King! He is worthy of obedience, and He is worthy of proclamation!

If you’re not sure where to begin, we can help! It’s just an email or phone call away. There are amazing resources in our state to help church leaders. You can always reach me at president@scbo.org.

Grace and Peace,
Adam Pursel