What will it take for you to follow Jesus!

When Jesus heard it, He said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.” Mark 2:17 NKJV
 
Jesus saw Matthew sitting at a tax office. Jesus said to him, “Follow Me.” Mathew arose and followed Jesus. Matthew became an Apostle of Jesus Christ. He turned his back on privilege and status. Matthew devoted the rest of his life to following Jesus.
 
What will it take for you to follow Jesus? 
 
Jesus dined at Matthew’s house. Many sinners and tax collectors joined them. The scribes and Pharisees saw Jesus breaking bread with them in fellowship. They asked the disciples, “How is it that He eats and drinks with tax collectors and sinners?”
 
We should examine ourselves before the Lord and ask, have I taken on a critical spirit?  Do I look down on the lost? In that culture they were sinners and tax collectors. Today they might be drug addicts, alcoholics and homeless people. 
 
We can be critical of other people for their sins and make excuses for ours. We can ask God to judge other people for their sins and forgive ours. When we look down on people who are in bondage to sin we are guilty of breaking the law of God.
 
We should not tolerate or excuse sin. We should remember all people sin, including us. We should remember Jesus sacrificed Himself on a cross for all of us!
 
Jesus wants all people to be saved. Jesus wants to set all of us free from bondage to sin and unbelief. Jesus calls us to hate sin as much as He does. Jesus also commands us to love sinners as much as He does.
 
We can never love people as much as Jesus does. We can let Jesus love people through us!
 
Jesus is calling each of us to take up our cross and follow Him today!
 
Taking up our cross means taking up the instrument of death to self. It means putting on the mind of Christ so He can form His life in us and live out His life through us.
 
If we cannot admit our sin and our need for a Savior we have no part in Jesus!
 
If we do not think of ourselves more highly than we should Jesus will be with us. Jesus will be with us when we meet people who need to hear the Gospel. Jesus will be with us as we live in faith for the glory of God.
 
Take up your cross today!
 
Ask the Lord of the harvest to give you His heart for His people. Be about the Father’s business today. Follow Jesus Christ everywhere He leads you!
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