Are you a follower or just a fan?

Are you a fan or are you a follower? 

Well, that's a powerful question right there. In Matthew chapter 16, Jesus brings all his disciples together. He's about to die. He looks at them and they look like fans. They've been fascinated by the ministry of Jesus. They've been seeing the miracles: the lame are walking, the blind are seeing, the deaf are hearing, and the dead are coming to life. But Jesus is not looking for fans who will admire him. He's actually looking for followers that are ready to obey Him. 

Jesus says to them: "If any of you desires to follow me, let him deny himself and take up the cross and follow me." The word "deny" in the root text means to refuse, to separate, to disown, to refuse to associate with the person that you are right now. The greatest person that you are in love with is you. Your plans, your desires, your aspirations. God is saying, "Are you ready to surrender your plans and your dreams at the foot of the cross, and to live under the Lordship of Jesus Christ, and to live a life of faith trusting in him?

"Cross" in the Scripture is not a fashion statement. It means death to things that you hold so close in your life. What does that mean for you? Maybe it means to walk away from a relationship that you're not supposed to be in. Maybe to forgive even when it hurts. Maybe to be a preacher of the gospel and to talk about the gospel even if you know that you will get persecuted. Maybe it's to surrender your plans or ambitions at the foot of the cross. 

The big question is: are you ready to go where he wants you to go? Are you ready to do what he wants you to do? Are you ready to say what he wants you to say? Are you ready to be a follower instead of just a fan? 

Then Jesus said to his disciples, "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me."     Matthew 16:24

Here is a short devotion on this scripture...

The Cost of Following Jesus

We know from Scripture that salvation is a free gift that Jesus offers to those who trust and believe in Him. But just because our salvation is free—doesn’t mean the rest of our lives with Jesus will cost us nothing as well.

Jesus says that following Him will cost us everything. This doesn’t mean we have to earn our salvation or work for acceptance, but it does mean that following Jesus requires everything that we have.

When we become disciples of Jesus, we follow in His footsteps. We let Jesus teach and guide us. If we are serious about this, then our lives will become patterned after His life. This means that just as Jesus took up a cross and gave up everything He had, we also must be ready to carry our own cross.

So what does it mean to take up a cross and follow Jesus? It means that we should be ready to give up everything for the sake of Jesus. It means denying ourselves by surrendering our own desires and plans for God’s desires and plans. Rather than focusing on ourselves, we center our lives around God’s mission in the world: loving Him and loving others as we make disciples. 

Taking up one’s cross isn’t easy, but there is nothing in this life that is better than following Jesus. While immediate pleasure often feels more desirable in the moment, it quickly fades and leaves us searching for more. No possession or position can lead to true satisfaction in life—that is found only in Jesus.

Take a moment to think about your life. Are there things that you’re holding onto that you would be hesitant to surrender to Jesus? Are there relationships that serve your own desires rather than God’s? Commit to following Jesus regardless of how difficult or challenging life might become. The cross, while painful, is temporary—abundant life with Jesus is eternal.