Leave the Toys and Follow Him

“If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.“
Luke 9:23 – NRSV

Wow! Jesus didn’t leave anything to guess-work! He plainly and unreservedly identified what the decisions and actions of His ‘followers’ will look like – (1) deny themselves, (2) take up their cross daily, and (3) follow Him. What a picture of the ‘followers’ of Christ!

But what about those people who have confessed their sin and accepted Jesus as their Savior, but are really not pursuing Christ in their lifestyle? I mean, they usually attend church on weekends, know a few Bible verses, and live good lives, but they just don’t possess an active lifestyle of change and growth in Jesus.

The Difference between CHILDREN and FOLLOWERS!

‘Followers’ are those who were identified by Jesus’ own words: deny themselves, take up their crosses and follow Him. But there is another group of Believers, and they are classified as ‘children;’ different than ‘followers.’ Follow me… Children are definitely a part of the family, but they severely lack the maturity and selflessness to grow in relationship with the Father. They are loved and cared for because they belong to the Father, but they are still possessed with their ‘toys’ and easily distracted by life. The difference is identified when we understand that followers are actually ‘sons,’ and children are still self-centered and infantile in faith (1 Cor. 3:1-3; 13:11; Heb. 5:13-14).

The HEBREW Hot-Spot!

‘Son’ in the Hebrew is <ben> and means, builder of the house. Different than a ‘child,’ a son is one who has grown through his childish ways and immature distractions and has learned to focus on the Father’s will and to follow in His footsteps (Jn 1:12; Rom. 8:14; Phil. 2:15). When this level of ‘following’ takes place, the child becomes a son, because the Father’s name and the Father’s will have been transferred to the next generation – which builds, increases and promotes the Father’s house! In other words, you can be a child in the house, without ever building the house! And according to Jesus in Luke 9:23 – sonship will be evidenced by those who are followers, and not just childish believers.

The END

Until Believers decide to move and mature beyond childish, carnal-Christianity, we will never live in the fullness of the promises, provision and blessings of God! Why? Because it is the act of  ‘obedience’ that releases the blessings from heaven; obedience to denying me (killing self-centeredness), obedience of taking up my cross daily (embracing God’s will over mine) and obedience of following Him (moving, advancing and increasing in the steps of the Jesus). His path is the only path that will lead you into your destiny. Let’s grow up, ‘build the house’ and follow the Father!

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