Then he said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but are yourself lost or destroyed?” – Luke 9: 23-25

Being raised in the South where there’s a church on practically every street corner, the threat of religious persecution was never a reality I had to face.

But in Jesus’ time, and subsequent generations after His death, persecution was a very real threat.

And even now, in some parts of the world, people are executed for proclaiming their faith in Christ.

Can you imagine what that feels like? To know that your very life is on the line because of your devotion to Christ?

If it came down to being spared or being killed, how many of us would deny Christ to buy more time in this world?

How many of us would give up this world and everything in it altogether because we believe with all of our hearts that Christ is the way, the truth, and the life?

In His time, many people sought after Jesus for healing or perhaps even out of curiosity.

And in our time, many people wear the Christian badge out of custom and tradition. 

But to be an authentic follower, we must know that Heaven is for real.

And that sacrificing an eternity spent with God for anything in this world is pointless.

Our faith must run as deep as the ocean, color every aspect of our lives, and stand strong in the face of opposition.

Only then will we have truly proven ourselves worthy of entering the Kingdom of Heaven.

Be blessed,

Alexia

Prayer: God, help me to build all of my hopes on things eternal, on your glorious Kingdom which my eyes have not yet seen. Take away all of my attachments to this world so my time here will be spent living for you and your unfailing word. Help me to understand that the luxuries of this world are all smoke and mirrors and that nothing compares to you. In Jesus’ Name, I pray, Amen.