Things Jesus Never Said
Then He said to them all, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. "For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it. Luke 9:23-24
“Follow your heart” seems like good advice. It’s probably the way most people live their lives. How am I to choose between two different jobs? How am I to choose whether or not the person I am dating is the one I should marry? How am I to choose what to eat for dinner tonight? Well, follow your heart!
Can the heart be trusted? What does Jesus say about it? "For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, "thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness.” (Mark 7:21-22) Is my heart what I should be following? No, you shouldn’t be following your heart. Then what should I be following? Jesus! What does that involve? The opposite of following your heart. It involves denial. It involves losing your life for His sake. That means being willing to suffer the burdens of being a Christian.
The sufferings of Christ brings a burden that you can bear. His yoke is easy, His burden is light. Following Jesus truly lightens and lifts all burdens off the soul. Following Him means trusting Him for all things. It means believing that He fulfilled the Law for me. It means that I am at peace with God because of what Jesus did. Following Him means losing your earthly life. It also means gaining eternal life. Following Him isn’t a burden, it’s a privilege. May He help us to follow Him no matter the cost!
Oh, guide and lead me, Lord,
While here below I wander
That I may follow Thee
Till I shall see Thee yonder.
For if I led myself,
I soon would go astray;
But if Thou leadest me,
I keep the narrow way.
The Lutheran Hymnal 417:6