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GIVING UP THE DRIVER’S SEAT

Then Jesus said to the disciples, "If any of you wants to be my follower, you must put aside your selfish ambition, shoulder your cross, and follow me.  If you try to keep your life for yourself, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for me, you will find true life. And how do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul in the process? Is anything worth more than your soul?   – Matthew 16:24-26 (NLT)

      No room for negotiation here. Jesus makes it exceedingly clear, “It’s My way or the highway,” “Get on board or get off the boat.” And how could it be any other way? Either Jesus is Lord of our life or He is not. If He is Lord, then we have no choice but to follow His direction for our life and to do so with no hint of regret. If He is not Lord of our life, we need to acknowledge it, head out on our own, and admit that we recognize self as Lord. Which will we choose?

      When Jesus gets behind the wheel, He’s going to drive us to a kingdom of crosses, a place where others have gathered to share in the suffering of sacrifice. It is in this place that we are free to become the person that God has created us to be. It is in the art of self-sacrifice that we grow in community toward each other and with our Lord. The way of the cross is the only path to complete and total fulfillment as a human being.

PRAYER THOUGHT: Father, I’m ready for Jesus to take over my life. This time, I really mean it. I’m yours!