Matthew 10:24-42
Salvation is a free gift of God. It comes to us through faith in Jesus, whose sacrifice fully paid for our forgiveness and reconciliation with God. There’s not a single thing we can add to bring salvation about; our role is simply to believe. But from that moment on, each of us must make a choice: Will we follow Jesus or just coast along, doing what we want? If we limit our Christianity to merely sitting in a pew, we’ll miss the greatest adventure of our life.
Jesus never painted a rosy picture when He called people to follow Him (Matt. 24:9). He stated quite plainly that becoming His follower would require self-denial, sacrifice, and suffering. Following Jesus means that He directs our life. We give up our rights to do whatever we want and instead submit to His will, even when it is difficult or doesn’t align with our preferences. If you don’t realize how good, loving, and wise our God is, walking in His will may seem scary or even foolish.
But those who deny themselves to follow Jesus discover they lose nothing and gain everything. Even when His disciples are in a season of pain and suffering, the Lord knows how to give them inner peace and a joy that transcends circumstances. Are you looking to Jesus or yourself for direction? Your lifestyle, words, and attitudes reveal who truly rules your life.
Bible in One Year: 2 Corinthians 1-4
