Faithful Followers

Read Mark 8:34-38

The call of Christ upon our lives is at the same time daunting and rewarding. It is daunting because Jesus calls us to surrender ourselves fully to him. Modern Western civilization, particularly as it is manifested in the American way of life is characterized by rugged individualism. As I walk through our pre-school on any given morning or stand on the playground on any given afternoon I am likely to hear a number of children say, “I can do it all by myself.” They are a product of a culture that idealizes the individual.

Christ calls us to a life of self-sacrifice for the good of the many. While it is important to have good self esteem, Jesus is calling us first to a life of submission. The irony is that it is only through this submission that we can truly be free. It is hard to admit that we cannot do it all by ourselves.

If we are to follow Christ, we are to take up our crosses. Jesus does not want us to suffer but he does want us to be obedient

So you might be asking yourself – where is the rewarding part? This is the true test of our faith. The reward is something we cannot see and cannot fully understand. While a Christian life rewards us with hope, peace joy and love on Earth. These rewards pale in comparison to those of the life to come.

Prayer: God of Salvation, help me to take up my cross and follow you. Show me the way. Amen.

Charles Z. Gardner