Take Up Your Cross

Scripture: Matthew 16:25

Introduction

Scan through Pinterest, Instagram, or the merchandise available at most Christian retailers, and you will eventually find a collection of peaceful nature scenes overlaid with encouraging Scriptures. They’re popular choices for many living room walls and desktop backgrounds.  I’ve bought a few myself. Most seem to say that if you follow Jesus you will find peace, tranquility, and happiness. But is that the whole story?

Even a casual study of Jesus and His followers reveals lives that were far from peaceful. Trouble and violence followed them everywhere. They were run out of towns, stoned, beaten, and imprisoned. Jesus was eventually killed and so were most of His early followers.

How is it that the Bible can promise life, when the experiences of many Christians seem to be so different?

When Jesus first told His disciples that they needed to take up their cross and follow Him, it might have been easy for them to imagine Him speaking in metaphor. That is, until they saw Him actually picking up a cross and marching off to His death. At that point, it was hard to deny the severity of their call.
Jesus was serious. To follow Him, they would need to be all in. They would need to be willing to give up everything. It’s no wonder those disciples initially ran away and hid. I would probably have done the same.

A message of sacrifice probably wouldn’t sell well, plastered on a poster or bumper sticker. Most of us, if we’re honest, want just enough Jesus to get the benefits, but not so much that we feel the cost. Yet is it really possible to get one without the other?

Jesus warned His disciples, saying, “For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it” (Matthew 16:25).

In this plan, we will examine some scenes from the life of Jesus and take a closer look at the path that He walked, the dangerous, gritty path of true submission and sacrifice. Our journey will begin in the very place most of us try to avoid—the wilderness—and end with the joy of the Resurrection.

What do you think it means to try to save your life?

What does it mean to find your life?

Scriptures: Luke 4:1-2, Hebrews 13:5

The Wilderness

I stared at the calendar in disbelief. It had been exactly three years to the day since I was laid off. I had originally seen my layoff as a chance to make a new start, but after three years, not much had changed.

I felt like I was traveling across a vast desert without a GPS. Each night the wind would erase my trail of footprints and by morning, I would lose my bearings. With each restart I would become less and less sure of where I was and where I was going.

Then I read Luke 4:1-2, and there were several concepts that I could not reconcile with my previous assumptions about God.

• Jesus was full of the Spirit, yet God still led Him into the wilderness. I’ve often found myself believing that as long as I did my part, I could count on God to do His. With that mindset, “good deeds” were actually premiums for a cosmic insurance policy. How could someone be full of the Spirit and still find themselves in the wilderness?
• Jesus was full of the Holy Spirit, yet He was tempted. Most of my mechanisms for dealing with temptation were designed to keep me close to God. That, I thought, would force Satan to stay away. Jesus lived a sinless life, yet still faced temptations.
• God was the one who brought Jesus to the wilderness. How could a loving Father take the hand of His trusting, innocent Son and deliberately lead Him into the wilderness to face temptation?

Many of our assumptions about God have more to do with who we want Him to be, than who He actually is. Sometimes, it is our false assumptions that actually prevent us from moving forward.  If you find yourself lost in the wilderness like me after I lost my job, remember to hold on to what we know is true from God’s word. God promised to “never leave you, nor forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5). Trust His Word. Lean on Him. No matter what your situation is, you are not alone. 

Have you faced any wilderness experiences in your life? If so, did you learn anything about God in the process? Are there any Scriptures that were meaningful to you at the time?

Scriptures: Luke 4:2, Galatians 5:23

The Struggle

It is generally not a good idea to get in my way when I’m hungry. Hunger has a way of bypassing my higher brain functions and leaving me with a version of myself that I am often not proud of. I’m more aggressive, less patient, and generally more likely to say something I’ll regret later. I can only imagine what I would be like if I were ever to experience real hunger!

Jesus spent 40 days in the wilderness. We learn from Luke 4:2 that “… he ate nothing during those days. And when they were ended, he was hungry.” What an understatement! Forty days without food is right on the edge of human tolerance. Jesus wasn’t just hungry; He was literally starving to death.

By that point, His body would have used up all of its fat reserves and would have started digesting muscle just to stay alive. In that condition, I would hardly be able to blame Him if He caved in to a little selfishness … if He acted a little less Jesus-like, and a little more me-like. Yet that’s not what He did. He did not allow His circumstances to dictate His behavior. Through it all Jesus stayed focused.

It’s not easy to control the flesh. We are creatures consumed by many different hungers. We long for food, sex, love, control, security, and more. Given their proper place, these hungers help us to live and thrive, but when these hungers are allowed to grow beyond their natural boundaries the results are obesity, sexual immorality, idolatry, pride, and self-sufficiency.

If we are to follow Christ, then we must learn to practice self-control. Galatians 5:23 teaches that self control is a fruit of the Spirit. God had given the believer the Holy Spirit, and by extension, His self-control. We only need to use it.

It is no coincidence that the tradition of Lent has historically included some form of self-control discipline. Jesus prepared for His ministry by exercising His self-control muscles in the wilderness. We need to follow His example.

How are you doing when it comes to controlling your desires?

Is there an area of your life (or marriage) that could benefit from more self-control?

Scriptures: Matthew 3:17, Genesis 3:1, John 1:3, Luke 4:3-4

Who are You?

In the 1970s classic Kung Fu movie Enter the Dragon, Bruce Lee receives a challenge to a series of fights. During one challenge, Lee’s opponent tries to intimidate him by breaking a board. Lee calmly replies, “Boards don’t hit back.”

That wasn’t the reaction that his opponent had hoped for. He wanted to taunt Lee into proving his strength and perhaps even find a weakness in the process, but it didn’t work. The problem was that Bruce Lee knew he could break a board. There was no need for him to engage in such a petty display. Through his refusal to perform simple tricks, he displayed confidence in who he was.

In a way, this scene is similar to what happened to Jesus in the wilderness. The devil taunted Him and challenged Him to “command this stone to become bread” (Luke 4:3). From an outside point of view, this might seem like an impressive test of Jesus’ power, but when you consider that John 1:3 tells us, “Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made,” it seems as silly as Bruce Lee breaking a board. Jesus knew that he could do it. It wasn’t so much a test of Jesus’ ability as it was a test of His trust in the Father. So He simply answered, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone’” (Luke 4:4).

Satan’s loves to make us doubt God.

In the garden, Satan asked Eve, “Did God really say …?” (Genesis 3:1). He wanted Eve to question whether God was trustworthy. With his question to Jesus, Satan was essentially asking, “Did God really say you were His Son? How do you know that you can trust Him? Maybe you’ve waited for God long enough. Maybe it’s time to take matters into your own hands.”

Satan has been using the same technique since the dawn of man. Like a snake, he sneaks up on us when we’re at our lowest point and taunts us with seeds of doubt.

Even though Jesus was tired and hungry in the wilderness, He had complete trust in God. If you know who you are, and you trust in who you belong to (God), then you’ll be in a much better position to stand firm against Satan’s taunts.

What lie is Satan whispering into your ears? What truth about God can you hold onto?

Scriptures: Luke 4:5-8, Philippians 4:19, Philippians 4:7, Ephesians 1:4

Temptation to Downgrade

Have you ever noticed how movies portray car salesmen? You know the type: the guy with the big fake smile, who always seems to have a special deal “just for you.” When we see these movie characters, we instantly understand that the salesman is a liar and any “deal” that he might offer will benefit himself far more than the unsuspecting customer.

While it is easy to laugh at these caricatures, Satan uses very similar techniques.

To someone starving in the wilderness, the deal Satan offered in Luke 4:5-8 must have sounded great. Change sides, and Jesus’ hunger would cease, His struggles would be over, and He would be bathed in splendor and glory. Where is the down side? It sounds like a win-win.

That’s what makes Satan such a good salesman. His solutions make sense. They seem to address our concerns in reasonable ways. Tell a little lie on that job application, and the stress and embarrassment of unemployment will be over. Have sex with your boyfriend, and you will finally know what it is to be loved. Divorce your spouse, and you will find peace. No matter the temptation, Satan always manages to hide the truth about the deal he is offering.

With Jesus, Satan left out the truth that Jesus is God. Satan wasn’t offering him anything but a downgraded version of something he already had; all the kingdoms of the world were already His! Because Jesus knew the truth, He was able to see through the deception and not fall for the attraction of lesser things.

The same goes for us. When unemployed for a long time, a lie that helps you land a job might not seem that bad yet the truth is, job or no job, “God shall supply all of your needs …” (Philippians 4:19).

A sexual compromise might seem like a small price to pay to find love, yet long before God laid the foundations of the world, we were the focus of His love (Ephesians 1:4).

Divorce might seem like the only way to find peace, yet the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, is already available (Philippians 4:7).

Satan is always trying to convince us to follow his ways instead of God’s. No matter how sweet his deal might look, don’t fall for it. In the end it’s just a downgrade.

What lies has Satan tried to sell you? Where can you look to find the truth?

Scripture: Luke 4:14-15

The Power of the Spirit

I am what you might call a seasonal exerciser. For most of the year, my muscles go into a state of hibernation as other priorities take over. At some point, my inactivity causes me to reach critical mass, and I know that it is time for me to find my workout videos and get moving again.

One reason I avoid working out is that starting is painful. In order to build new muscle, the old ones must be torn up. When done right, a good workout will cause thousands of microscopic tears to develop in the muscle. These tears hurt and typically cause me to walk around like an old man as I coddle sore muscles. With proper nutrition and rest, the body repairs these tears and new muscle is created. The trick is to work out hard enough to allow for growth without causing actual injury.

In many ways, wilderness experiences are similar. Most of us would be reluctant to enter into a wilderness experience—a time when we experience pain and suffering and temptation and doubt. Times like these are painful and they have a tendency to tear at our spiritual muscle.

In the midst of our struggles, we find ourselves questioning everything. Does God really exist? Why me? Does God really care? Each question forces us to come face to face with our limitations. We have no choice but to rely on God’s strength to get us through.

If we allow ourselves to find rest and nourishment in God, the experience doesn’t break us. Instead, it makes us stronger. We exit the wilderness equipped with new spiritual muscle and often, a new mission.

Ministry opportunities exist on the other side of our wilderness experiences. We are not only better able to relate to the suffering of others and offer compassion, but we have a fresh understanding of God’s power.

After overcoming the wilderness, Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit ready to begin a ministry that would change the world in just three short years.

The next time you find yourself in the wilderness, use it as a time to draw closer to God and build new spiritual muscle.

He might be preparing you for your next ministry assignment.

What have your struggles taught you about God? How might God use your experiences to minister to others?

Scripture: Luke 4:28-30

Ready for Rejection

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard statements like, “You’ll know that you’re doing God’s will because doors open for you and things get easier.” The belief is that following and obeying God will protect us from having to face too many struggles. And if struggles do come, then it must mean that we’ve walked away from God’s will in some way.

When Jesus returned from his wilderness experience, He was operating in the power of the Holy Spirit. You might logically expect that He would have been well-received at His home synagogue. Yet the way Luke describes it in Luke 4:28-29, His sermon was a disaster.

I’ve bombed in front of an audience before, but I’ve never incited an angry mob to try and kill me.

I am sure Jesus was able to sense the agitation in the crowd growing as He spoke. This was his home synagogue. I’m sure He understood their particular culture. He knew the kind of preaching that they would accept and the kind of preaching that would cause a stir. He could have chosen to pull back and take the edge off His words.

Apparently, following the will of God doesn’t make life easier, but it does give us the courage to do His will, no matter the cost. Jesus pressed forward and delivered God’s message, God’s way, and it nearly cost His life.

We will likely say things that people don’t want to hear. People may slam doors in our faces. We may lose friends, jobs, or even have an angry mob threaten to throw us off a cliff. We will face resistance, but we can have faith that God’s plans will not be thwarted.

Is fear keeping you from speaking the truth?

If fear were not a factor, how might God use you for His Kingdom?

Scripture: Mark 3:20-21

Family Opinion

It is one thing to find out that a complete stranger has a low opinion of you, it is quite another when your family rejects you. A stranger’s opinion is much easier to ignore.

Our families have access to accurate details about our lives. They know our backstories intimately, having shared much of them firsthand. Family members’ opinions often carry such weight that we can find ourselves remembering comments they made decades later.

Shortly after Jesus began His ministry, huge crowds began to follow Him everywhere. As Mark 3:20-21 records the scene, Jesus’ own family thought He was crazy. I’m sure their concern for Him was well intentioned; perhaps they wanted to tell him, “Slow down a bit Jesus. Rest. Eat. Don’t work so hard.” It would have been natural for Jesus to have been tempted to listen to them, yet when He learns (in verse 33) that they are outside looking for him He didn’t let it phase Him. He stayed focused.

Just because we are following the will of God, doesn’t mean that everyone who is important to us will agree with what we are doing. They might think we are crazy and, motivated by genuine love and concern, might attempt to use their influence to prevent our obedience.

Often the tension caused by disapproving family members can have a cooling effect on our passion. If Jesus felt the tension, He didn’t show it. He knew that the approval of his heavenly Father was more important than the approval of His earthly family. He knew where His loyalties lay.

If family members are making your Christian journey difficult, take heart. Jesus’ earthly family didn’t always agree with his path, either. But His heavenly Father did, and that’s what mattered most.

Have you ever felt God leading you in a direction that someone close to you disagreed with?

What elements of Jesus’ life do you think helped Him to choose to obey the will of His heavenly Father, over His earthly family?

Scriptures: Luke 9:58, 1 Peter 4:12

Homeless

A few years ago, I watched as a brave young man left his career to start a journey to become a pastor. We slowly became friends as he served the youth of our church. After a few years of success, he began to face struggle upon struggle.

I remember the day that he called me and said he was about to find himself jobless, churchless, and homeless. I was confused. It simply didn’t make sense. How could someone who had dedicated his life to serving God find himself in such a situation?

Surely, I thought, he must have done something to garner God’s wrath. There must have been more to the story. Yet the closer I pressed into his situation, the clearer it became that, through no fault of his own, an honest, God fearing pastor, husband, and father of two, was days away from being homeless.

Stories like this disturb our sense of justice. While we may not expect God to shower His people with riches, if we’re honest, we do hope for at least a little quid pro quo. A homeless pastor with wife and kids in tow? Something about that just doesn’t feel right. But, where does this expectation come from?

When someone approached Jesus expressing interest in following Him, Jesus didn’t paint any rosy pictures. He didn’t promise that God would take away problems or make life easier. He essentially said, “Yes. Please follow me, but not because you’re looking for an easy life, because this road will be tough.”

At times, Jesus was homeless. At times, people didn’t want to hear what He had to say. At times, people wanted to kill Him. Jesus told His disciples to expect such things.

After spending a few months sleeping in my spare bedroom, God called my friend to be the lead pastor of a wonderfully loving and growing church. While things are better for him now, I often think about the time when he was homeless. How easy would it have been for him to walk away from his calling and return to his old career? Yet he stayed the course. He knew that following Christ was worth any hardship he might face. I only hope to be able to follow his example.

What would you be willing to endure for the opportunity to follow Jesus? Where would you draw the line? Why?

Scripture: Luke 22:42

Not My Will

Autism affects more than 3.5 million people in America. With nearly one out of every 68 babies born being diagnosed with some form of the disorder, chances are that we all know someone who has been impacted.

This wasn’t always the case. Thirty years ago the chances of developing autism were listed at only 1 in 10,000. Most doctors had never seen it, and those that had didn’t have much hope that anything could be done for it.

When the doctors returned with my brother’s initial diagnosis, they did so with documents in hand. After a brief explanation of his grim prognosis, they asked my parents to declare my brother a ward of the state and have him institutionalized immediately.

As a million different emotions fought for control of our hearts, one truth was clear to us. The doctors didn’t know our God. They might not know what to do with my brother, but we did. We stormed out of the office, determined to take my brother before the Lord in prayer.

And pray we did. Our family prayed, our friends prayed, our church prayed. We prayed for years without ceasing that he would be healed. But for reasons we may never know, God’s answer has been no, or at least so far.

Many people told us that there must be hidden unconfessed sin blocking God’s answer, so we confessed more and tried harder. They told us we lacked faith, so we doubted less and believed stronger. We tried everything they suggested, but God still refused to heal him.

When Jesus prayed for deliverance in the Garden of Gethsemane, He didn’t get the answer that He wanted either. Three times the sinless, perfect Son of God asked His Father to say yes, and three times His Father said no.

Even though Jesus didn’t want to endure the pain of the cross, He did. He trusted that His Father would use his pain to achieve something glorious and it did. His pain created a pathway for mankind to be reconciled with God.

While our pain will never come close to achieving such a grand purpose, like Jesus, we can trust that God knows what He is doing. Sometimes the best thing that we can do is to simply say “Thy will be done.”

How can Jesus’ story help you trust God when things don’t go your way?

Scriptures: Matthew 16:24, Philippians 1:21

Take Up Your Cross

Modern states that allow for the death penalty attempt to carry out the sentence as quickly and as painlessly as possible. The ancient Roman Empire did not share these sensibilities. Its execution process was designed to inflict as much pain as possible for as long as possible. The public spectacle of a man slowly dying as he hung naked, beaten and nailed to a cross, was a highly effective deterrent.

Why, then, would Jesus choose such a metaphor when He talked to His disciples about following Him? It doesn’t make sense; who would want to be crucified?

Unless it wasn’t a metaphor.

Jesus wasn’t trying to be dramatic. He literally went to the cross, and He literally lost His life. He made a choice to suffer and die for a greater purpose, and He called His disciples to do the same.

He wasn’t trying to give an inspirational speech. Instead he was warning His followers to steel their resolve and be ready for the hard road ahead. While many were eager to hear the message of Christ, others were often violently opposed. Jesus’ disciples faced intense persecution and death.

In fact, during the early years after Christ’s Resurrection and Ascension, following Jesus was essentially a suicide mission. Christians had to be willing to die, both figuratively and literally, in order to follow Him. Jesus was not just a part of their lives. He was their life.

They didn’t care about possessions, careers, or paying for their kid’s college education. They only cared about following Christ. Paul said, “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21).

We may never have to face the level of persecution that the early Christians did. Yet Jesus’ call still stands: “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.”
What would it look like if we were to have this level of commitment?

What if, instead of working to achieve our own comfort, we embraced a higher purpose?

What if the desire to follow Christ and tell others about His goodness was so powerful that we would be willing to face any level of persecution?

Jesus’ early followers did these things, and they were able to change the world. Can we do the same?

Scriptures: John 14:27, Ephesians 1:20-21

True Peace

I once had the opportunity to drive a new Corvette Stingray on a test track. My only instructions were, “Make it pretty.”

I was used to driving a beat-up Chevy Cavalier. I had never been behind the wheel of such an expensive high-end sports car. Once my hands stopped shaking, I took a moment to just sit in the cabin. I marveled at how beautiful the interior was. The seats gave me a soft, yet firm hug and whispered in my ear, “Trust me, I’ll hold you through the curves.”

When I finally turned the engine over, the roar made my heart skip a beat. I slammed the accelerator to the floor and the drive was unlike anything I had ever experienced. I had a blast.

When I was given the keys to that car, I was given the ability to accelerate faster, corner sharper, and stop harder than I ever had before. Once I experienced what driving could feel like, I had a hard time returning to my old Chevy Cavalier.

When Jesus promised to give us peace, He didn’t just offer us any peace. He offered us the keys to His peace. His perfect, unlike-anything-you-have-ever-experienced-before, peace. He offered us the same peace that allowed Him to face all of the struggles of His life, including the cross, with poise.
His peace came from an unshakeable trust that His Father’s will was perfect and good.

His trust was verified after the crucifixion when God “raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come” (Ephesians 1:20-21).

This is the peace that Christians have access to. Too often however, we take the keys of Jesus’ peace, but then drive away on our own. Our peace is inadequate and fleeting. It cannot stand up against the struggles of this life. God’s peace can, but we will need to trust Him to do the driving. That can be hard because most of us prefer to be in the driver’s seat.

What areas of your life are causing you the most stress?

What is preventing you from resting in God’s peace?

Scriptures: Philippians 4:11-13, Philippians 3:14

Tranquility

I grew up in a poor, drug-infested neighborhood in Brooklyn. My father was a hard-working welder at the local shipyard. When there were ships in for repair, we had enough to get by. When there weren’t, life got tough.

Years later, I worked on Wall Street for a large investment bank. I had made it.

What struck me was that, despite the higher salary, I still experienced much of the financial stresses that we had when I was a child. I made twice what my father had made, yet I still lived paycheck to paycheck. I still felt that my situation would improve if I could just get a little bit more.

Paul speaks to this situation in his letter to the Philippians.

In it, he explains that through Christ he could handle either circumstance, rich or poor. But notice the ending of this verse. It is one of the most misquoted passages in Scripture: “I can do all things through him who strengthens me.”  As encouraging as that thought is, it cannot be taken out of context. Paul is not saying, “I can do anything I put my mind to because of Christ.” He isn’t saying, “I will pass the test, get the job, or win the contract.” What he says is that he learned how to be content in any circumstance.

True tranquility doesn’t come from achieving success, it comes from learning to be content in every situation. Paul was able to do this because he knew that the real prize is “the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:14).

When I learned to be content with what I had, I was able to realize that God was the one supplying my needs. He was the one that I could trust in, not my job, or the size of my paycheck.

It was a good lesson to learn too. In 2008, the investment bank where I worked went out of business and launched a global financial crisis. But for me it was okay. I was content.

When we learn to take our eyes off our situation and place them on the Christ, we can experience tranquility in any and every situation.

Are you content in your current circumstances?

Scriptures: Hebrews 12:1-2, 1 Peter 1:6-9, Revelation 21:4

Joy

Ask a group of mothers to recount stories of childbirth and you will likely hear tales that rival the best war stories ever told.

“Twenty-four hours of labor!” one will exclaim.

“That’s nothing,” says another, “mine was 27 hours. And I had twins!”

When you consider the magnitude of the pain and trauma that the female body must endure in order to give birth, it is amazing that the human race exists at all. Why would any woman willingly put herself through that much torment, especially after growing up hearing stories like these?

The answer is simple. As painful as the childbirth experience might be, any mother will tell you that the first time she holds her baby in her arms, it all becomes worth it. Gazing into the child’s face for the first time, the pain isn’t just forgotten, it is eclipsed. As wave after wave of intense love washes over the mother, it becomes difficult to notice anything else.

When Jesus faced the cross, He knew exactly what He was getting himself into. Anyone living in that society would. Yet He was able to endure it all in anticipation of the joy to come.

The call to follow Christ will not always be easy. There will be moments of temptation, rejection, and persecution.

No matter what struggles we may face as followers of Christ, we have a glorious future to look forward to. Revelation 21:4 tells us that one day “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”

When we finally see our Savior face to face, and enter into His presence, nothing else will matter. We will be overwhelmed with wave after wave of perfect love.

Let the cross remind you of the glory that is to come, and the amazing gift of forgiveness that we have already been offered. Let an appreciation for God’s love and mercy eclipse every pain, every longing, and every disappointment the wilderness may have brought you. Let it fill you with inexpressible joy and embolden you to run your race with perseverance.

What has God’s forgiveness meant to you? How will you live differently because of it?

Scriptures: John 10:10, Isaiah 43:7, 1 Corinthians 10:31

Abundant Life

A New York City ticker tape parade is a unique experience. The parade for the New York Yankees World Series win in 1999 was like walking through a life-sized snow globe. Tons of confetti filled the air as the roar of the crowd told the world, that the team had made it. The players on the floats were living the life.

John 10:10 says that Christ came to give His followers abundant life. Does that mean I’ll one day have my own ticker tape parade?

Our understanding of an abundant life depends greatly on what we believe the goals of life should be. For a professional athlete, the abundant life might involve being honored in the canyon of heroes. For a farmer, it might involve productive crops and full barns. For someone recovering from a spinal injury, it might simply involve being able to walk again. From wealth and fame to health and family, we all have different expectations for life.

When we feel we are experiencing all we were meant to, our lives feel abundant. When we don’t, we feel like we’re missing out. The problem is sometimes our feelings can deceive us. We don’t always see our life’s purpose clearly.

Jesus’ disciples thought they were supposed to be fishermen. To them, an abundant life might have meant a good catch. Yet Jesus had a very different idea in mind. He knew the potential of their lives. He understood that over 2,000 years later, we would still be studying their words, and finding God as a result. Their simple lives could be lived abundantly if they learned to do two simple things:

• Trust Jesus.
• Follow Jesus.

Because of their choices, millions of people throughout history have come to know the love of God. They literally changed the world. But they needed to readjust their definition of an abundant life. They needed to align their purpose with God’s.

We need to do the same.

The question is will we trust Him? Will we follow him?

The Christian journey is unlike any other. It will be filled with moments of joy, sorrow, turmoil, and peace. Yet through it all, the same God who created you, will be with you, loving you, and cheering you on. What more could we ask for?

Are you living the abundant life? Is there anything you could do differently?