One thing is sure in a battle: we will only be successful if we are fully committed. Imagine walking into a battle without the proper armor or a plan for battle. Imagine if we walk into a battle and only put in half of our effort. We would not win that battle. While we know this to be true, some of us have stepped into the battle against the enemy every day. Some of us have only halfway taken the call to follow Jesus and make disciples, choosing to obey and share our faith when it is convenient. Jesus made it clear while He was on earth that He was not looking for half-hearted followers. He was, and is, looking for fully devoted followers.
Jesus clarified to a crowd one day that He is looking for followers who will fully commit to following Him. He said, "If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow me" (verse 23). During Jesus' day, the call to take up your cross meant to give up your life. This call from Jesus was a call to ultimate sacrifice. He continued His teaching, saying, "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" (verse 24). Jesus' call to full devotion, even sacrifice, is not easy, but it leads to eternal life. You see, this world and this life is fading away with each passing day. Eternal life will last forever. That is why Jesus said, "And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but you are yourself lost or destroyed" (verse 25). Yes, the cost of fully devoting your life to Christ is significant, but the reward is worth every sacrifice we are called to make.
What about you? When it comes to your life, are you following entirely or only when it is convenient for you? If you find yourself following when it is convenient and only stepping out on the battlefield and sharing your faith with others when you feel comfortable, what is holding you back? Is fear holding you back? Maybe you are fearful to share your faith because you worry about how others will respond. Maybe you are fearful because you worry about saying the wrong thing. Is business holding you back? Maybe your schedule is packed so fully that you do not make room for sharing your faith or following Jesus wholeheartedly. Whatever the case, it is time today to step out and commit to following Christ fully and take seriously the call we have to share our faith and fight against the enemy. What are you waiting for?
Think for a moment about what holds you back from following Jesus wholeheartedly, holding nothing back, and sharing your faith regularly. Is it business? Is it fear? Has something else become a greater priority that you need to let go of? Take one step today to let go of the thing that is holding you back. As you take that step, you will find yourself one step closer to being a fully devoted follower of Christ.
"One day Jesus called together his twelve disciples and gave them power and authority to cast out all demons and to heal all diseases. 2 Then he sent them out to tell everyone about the Kingdom of God and to heal the sick. 3 "Take nothing for your journey," he instructed them. "Don't take a walking stick, a traveler's bag, food, money, or even a change of clothes. 4 Wherever you go, stay in the same house until you leave town. 5 And if a town refuses to welcome you, shake its dust from your feet as you leave to show that you have abandoned those people to their fate."
6 So they began their circuit of the villages, preaching the Good News and healing the sick.
7 When Herod Antipas, the ruler of Galilee, heard about everything Jesus was doing, he was puzzled. Some were saying that John the Baptist had been raised from the dead. 8 Others thought Jesus was Elijah or one of the other prophets risen from the dead.
9 "I beheaded John," Herod said, "so who is this man about whom I hear such stories?" And he kept trying to see him.
10 When the apostles returned, they told Jesus everything they had done. Then he slipped quietly away with them toward the town of Bethsaida. 11 But the crowds found out where he was going, and they followed him. He welcomed them and taught them about the Kingdom of God, and he healed those who were sick.
12 Late in the afternoon the twelve disciples came to him and said, "Send the crowds away to the nearby villages and farms, so they can find food and lodging for the night. There is nothing to eat here in this remote place."
13 But Jesus said, "You feed them."
"But we have only five loaves of bread and two fish," they answered. "Or are you expecting us to go and buy enough food for this whole crowd?" 14 For there were about 5,000 men there.
Jesus replied, "Tell them to sit down in groups of about fifty each." 15 So the people all sat down. 16 Jesus took the five loaves and two fish, looked up toward heaven, and blessed them. Then, breaking the loaves into pieces, he kept giving the bread and fish to the disciples so they could distribute it to the people. 17 They all ate as much as they wanted, and afterward, the disciples picked up twelve baskets of leftovers!
18 One day Jesus left the crowds to pray alone. Only his disciples were with him, and he asked them, "Who do people say I am?"
19 "Well," they replied, "some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah, and others say you are one of the other ancient prophets risen from the dead."
20 Then he asked them, "But who do you say I am?"
Peter replied, "You are the Messiah[d] sent from God!"
21 Jesus warned his disciples not to tell anyone who he was. 22 "The Son of Man must suffer many terrible things," he said. "He will be rejected by the elders, the leading priests, and the teachers of religious law. He will be killed, but on the third day he will be raised from the dead."
23 Then he said to the crowd, "If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow me. 24 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. 25 And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but are yourself lost or destroyed? 26 If anyone is ashamed of me and my message, the Son of Man will be ashamed of that person when he returns in his glory and in the glory of the Father and the holy angels. 27 I tell you the truth, some standing here right now will not die before they see the Kingdom of God."
