Doing All It Requires
There is an unfortunate moment that happens to many of us when we are not able to do one task we need to do because the first part of what we need to do isn't done yet.
Unless you have the best dryer in the world, no one is drying a load of laundry that has not spun out all the way. The clothes will never dry before they sour from all of the water they still have absorbed. What happens then? You’ve got to wash it again, and then make sure it’s spun out all the way. After you’ve done that again, then you are able to finally put it in the dryer.
The goal of having clean laundry is not possible without completing the process of washing and drying. The laundry is not done until it’s washed, rinsed, spun out, loaded into the dryer, and dried. The goal is not truly achievable until you’ve done all it takes to accomplish it.
After hearing God’s Word last Sunday morning, I reflected all throughout the afternoon into the evening on Jesus’ words we heard from Matthew 16:24 and my own life. Jesus said, “If anyone wants to follow after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.”
Conviction filled my heart and mind and brought a moment of clarity to me that I needed. Am I trying to follow Jesus, but neglecting to deny myself & take up my cross?
I had to be honest with myself, God, and Abby and acknowledge that there are days where I am failing to faithfully follow Jesus because whether I realized it or not, I was trying to follow Jesus without denying myself and taking up my cross.
If we’re all honest with ourselves, I think we all find ourselves in the same boat often. We’re trying to accomplish the goal of following Christ without doing all that it requires for that to be possible, which is a rejection of what we want (deny), and an acceptance of what He desires. (take up my cross) I can’t accomplish the goal of following Jesus daily without denying myself and taking up my cross first.
Join me this week in seeking to do all it takes to accomplish the goal. Just as clean laundry is accomplished when it is washed, rinsed, spun out, and dried, let us accomplish the goal of living for our Lord Jesus by denying ourselves, taking up our cross, and then following after Him!
Love you, church!
Pastor John
