Hot Pursuit

ON THE RUN

True story. A young man was driving and minding his own business when all of a sudden an 88 year old woman caused a wreck from behind. They both got out of the car to exchange insurance, sure enough part of the lady's front bumper fell on the pavement. Then the elderly lady looked at the car and did something unusual. She mentioned that it didn't seem like that big of a deal, so she got back in her car and took off. The young man quickly got back in his car and started to chase her to get her information and involve the insurance. The young man calls his dad and explains the situation describing it as a low-speed pursuit (25 miles per hour to be exact). Two miles later, the lady reaches her home and so does the young man. He calls the police and everything is resolved.

OFTEN QUOTED, OFTEN CONFUSED

"Then Jesus said to His disciples, 'If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me" (Matthew 16:24).

This scripture is quoted all of the time. I started thinking the other day..."it sounds great, but what in the world does "pick up your cross" even mean???" The Greek word for "deny" means "to forget one's self, lose sight of one's self and one's own interests." This scripture is the exact opposite of the story above. Instead of being a low-speed pursuit to seek his own interests (insurance), with Jesus we should be in a hot-speed pursuit to deny our own self and interests. I'm not saying that what the young man did in the story was wrong, I'm only saying that our pursuit of Jesus should be the opposite - a hot pursuit.

Why would you want to deny yourself, your interests, and your desires? I won't be able to fully explain this intelligibly. Watch someone in hot-pursuit and you'll see why. They have been introduced to someone they enjoy more than anyone or anything else...Jesus. Sound corny? Wait until you experience it.

Your "cross" is God's will for you, regardless of what it might cost you. As you grow closer in your relationship to Jesus, He'll start developing you to look more like Him. Therefore, your passions start reflecting His. Your desires start reflecting His. Your hunger is repositioned and redirected to Him.

Taking up your cross is a choice. It is not beyond your control. You may be experiencing health problems, a rebellious child, career concerns, relational turbulence, financial pressures, fear, worry, but don't mistake these as your "cross to bear." Yes, God will be present with you in the midst of these situations, but your cross is God's will for you.

First, take up your cross, then you can follow Him.