There is a difference between saying you’re a Christian and living your life completely submitted to Christ as His child. There’s more to this life than a nice Sunday message and a couple of Bible verses here and there. Today, we are talking about what it truly means to be a child of the King.
When we choose to be a disciple of Christ, there is a cost for it. This is explained a little bit in Luke chapter 9.
“Now it happened as they journeyed on the road, that someone said to Him, “Lord, I will follow You wherever You go.” And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.”
Then He said to another, “Follow Me.”
But he said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father. Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and preach the kingdom of God.”
Luke 9:57-60
Now, these verses are pretty deep and we really need to spend some time in the prayer closet to see what Jesus was talking about. See when we come to Christ, there are gonna be some things we are going to have to let go of. Our old lifestyle won’t help us when we are called to live for the King. Many unfortunately believe that they can live however they want and it would be okay. But see God does not like for us to have one foot in the world and another in Him. That is considered a lukewarm Christian to which the Bible states that “God would vomit you out because you are neither hot nor cold” Revelation 3:14-16. If we are serious about Christ, we have to submit to Him and let go of our sinful lifestyle. God allows us to come as we are but we can’t stay as we are.
The next part of that verse shows Jesus expressing to this person that he should let the dead bury the dead and preach the kingdom of God. There is an urgency to preach about Jesus and preach the gospel especially in the times we are living in. See often times we are too distracted with our past and find it hard to move forward. Jesus is saying to us that we can’t focus on what HAS happened because there is nothing we can do about it. But we should be focusing on bringing the body of Christ together and spreading the gospel.
“Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.”
Matthew 16:24 NKJV
Now, some people are under the assumption that they have time before they get their lives right with God. See now the devil is a liar! The last thing we ought to assume is that we have plenty of time. Death is real and random and one is promised tomorrow. Another point is that in the times we are living in now, you can’t make it without seeking God and seeking His truth. There is so much going on that we have to be positioned and ready to stand firm on God and His word.
Becoming a true child of the King, we are called to be set apart from those living in the world. This world is not our permanent residence. Romans 12:2 states “and do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” Like I mentioned before, there’s going to be a lot we are going to have to give up for us to serve Christ. Maybe it’s the group of friends, a relationship, drinking, partying, etc. Once we choose to live for God and submit to Him, “your old self has been crucified with Christ on the cross and you are no longer a slave to sin” Romans 6:6.
And trust me, once you do, the devil will take notice he will try to tempt you as hard as he can. But understand that God is with you and will provide all you need to overcome those temptations, and two, once you begin to delight yourself in the Lord, your old lifestyle won’t be as enjoyable anymore.
Jesus loves you all!
“If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14
Tesline Louis Bissell
This relates to exactly what I am going through now. Thank you and God bless
HerWisdomPersonified
I’m so happy you were able to relate to this. God bless sis!