If you are not willing to live God's way, as Jesus did, are you being a loyal follow of Christ? Jesus tells us to follow Him, yet what does that mean?
What does it mean to be a loyal follower of Jesus? Read Luke 14:25-33. Jesus tells us that if we want to be His follower, we must love Him more than our own flesh and blood, more than our own life. Otherwise we cannot be His disciples. If we accept His invitation, He said, we must carry our own cross as well. Don't be confused here, Christ and Him alone bore His cross of redemptive sacrifice for us. We cannot 'piggy back' on His cross, but must learn from Him how to bear our own personal challenges as we follow Him. This is not a casual invitation but a demanding expectation requiring complete surrender of every fiber of one's being.
No where in the Bible is it even suggested that we should elevate the symbol of the cross to the level of adoration, but as in Galatians 2:20, the significance of the cross is a guiding principle of not being conformed to this world as we once were, but renewing our minds, being transformed into Christ's image. We are to put to death any desire that we might have to follow the allure of this world or to have any type of agenda apart from God's will. When God's purpose is foremost in your life, living accidentally (despite stumbling at times), will not be a part of your life. Walking with humility, patience, and joy behind Christ is what is glorifying to God. Just like no one can serve two masters (Matthew 6:24), without loving one and hating the other, no one can live two opposing lives. You will end up hating one and loving the other and choosing the one you love. The more you focus on serving Christ, the less the world's enticements beckon you.
We have to remember that there will always be challenges. One big challenge is to live by His ways as outlined carefully for us in His Word while living in a world that denies just that. Christ's life was humanly lonely at times; He was denied, rejected, and laughed at – at times by His own earthly family! God does bring people into our lives at times to help us bear our cross as He brought Simon of Cyrene for Jesus. That is one more example for us; to keep our eyes open and stay available to answer His call to be that person for others as well (Philippians 2:4).
Remember that one day we will bear a crown (2 Timothy 4:8), but first we must bear a cross. He will never lead us where His Spirit cannot care for us. The greater the need, the greater the grace as we take up the privileged invitation of carrying a cross like Him. Be a loyal follower.
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