Give It Up

These verses have always troubled me. Not as much as they used to, I might add. But still I am troubled.

Mark 8:34-35 NLT
34 Then, calling the crowd to join his disciples, he said, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me. 35 If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will save it.

Not troubled because I don't understand the basic concept, but troubled because of the depth of what Jesus is calling me to do. Trouble at how slow I am to follow him. Let's do a little break down of this verse with my response in brakets.

• turn from my selfish ways (I like me more than anybody I know and I want to take care of ME)
• take up my cross - (there are things I uniquely bear in this life that are uncomfortable and I want to run from them)
• follow him (I like to lead not follow)
• if I hang on to my life I will lose it (I do everything possible to protect my life and the last thing I want to do is give it away)
• give up my life for Jesus (what a unique idea considering he already did that for me)

Just some of my very real struggles. The good news is that I have followed Jesus a little more in these areas than I did a year ago and more than I did the year before. So be encouraged those who are new in the journey - willingly give your life over to him. Take those tiny steps of faith and Jesus will take you further than you ever thought your could go. I am glad that Jesus loves me where I'm at. I am also glad he loves me enough not to allow me to stay there.