Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done.” – Matthew 16:24-27 NIV
Why College Tests Your Faith Like Nothing Before
Going to university away from home is a true test of your identity and values. For many, most of our lives before this period are spent in our parents’ homes, under their rules and influence, aligned with their beliefs and morals. Moving out, with no one watching your every move and meeting new people who can influence and sway you, shows who you are and where you stand. Every year, a new batch of wide-eyed youth is ready to take on the world. And sometimes, the world swallows them up instead. It happens to the best of us, and it is always when our guard is down: either when we have never had to decide where we stand, or when we are too confident in our ability to stand firm.
Following Jesus Isn’t One Big Decision — It’s a Thousand Small Ones
For children of God, it seems easy at first to deny your own way. But following the Lord is more about small, daily decisions than an overarching choice. The Bible says it best: the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak (Matthew 26:41). Even Peter denied Jesus despite being told that he would (Luke 22:54-62), and our Lord and Savior Himself was tempted (Matthew 4:1-11). No one is exempt from temptation or sin. It can always be you.
How We Slowly Lose the Plot Without Realizing It
The small, daily decisions are ones we make for the rest of our lives. The script seems easy enough. However, once we slowly start to compromise by engaging in things like finding solace in things other than Christ, allowing envy to fester, using grey areas (not wrong, but not profitable: 1 Corinthians 10:23) to make money – we have lost the plot. You see, if you are not completely for Him, you are against Him. And whatever we gain outside of Christ, we must remain outside of Him to maintain it. We do not suddenly wake up as different people. We slowly excuse thoughts, words, and actions until they are no longer honorable. We do not lay down our lives entirely.
What It Means to Take Up Your Cross as a Lifestyle
Jesus, our understanding Savior, has readily granted us the instructions we need to follow Him. He asks us to give up our own way and take up His cross not just sometimes, but as a lifestyle. That means that we must choose God even when no one is watching, and when it’s between Him and us only, especially then. The Word says that we should not grieve the Holy Spirit of God (Ephesians 4:30). There are days, no matter how seasoned one may be, that this will feel impossible, or we will fall short. But our kind Father has assured us that we are not alone, and that He actually walks with us in our pursuit of Him: so much so that His only Son died for our sin, bringing us closer to Him, and that His mercies are new – not once, nor twice, but every morning, for great is His faithfulness (Lamentations 3:22-23).
You’re Not Walking Alone
If you’re like the rest of us and this time of year feels like the time to give up because it’s been too hard to choose Him, hold on. The Lord is with you, and He can walk you through the little denials that will make up your walk with Christ. He is a God who is mighty to save, and in Jesus’ name, you shall bear fruit from the time spent with Him. Amen.
