“Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me." Matthew 16.24
We all leave a piece of ourselves behind when we move to a new place. But to become a long-term resident of Villas Las Estrellas, Antarctica. Leaving a piece of yourself behind is a literal thing. With the nearest hospital 625 miles away, a person will be in serious trouble if their appendix bursts. So every citizen is required to undergo an appendectomy before moving there.
Sounds drastic right? But it's not as drastic as becoming a citizen of the Kingdom of God. Because people want to follow Jesus on their own terms and not His. (Matthew 16:25-27) He said, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me” This includes being prepared to let go of everything that competes with Him and His Kingdom.
As we take up our cross, we also take on a willingness to truly follow Him. This means following His lead as He guides us into service and sacrifice. Following Jesus means so much more than leaving a little piece of ourselves of ourselves behind. With His help, it's about submitting and surrendering our whole lives, including our bodies, to Him alone.
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