First of all, I have decided to no longer type in all lowercase letters.
For some reason, I think the Lord is having me type correctly for a purpose…
Whenever I find out why….I will let you know, too!

When you read the Word of God, let me ask you, do you really understand?
Do you really understand the words on the page?
Are they penetrating into your life?
Are they penetrating into your spririt man?
Are they making such a HUGE impact on your life that you are not the same after you read them?

How many times do we read Matthew 16:24 and Mark 8:34-35 and say,
“Oh yes, Lord, turn me from my selfish ways. Amen” and then go about living our life without
any significant impact?

ALL THE TIME…or it would be impacting other people.

Matthew 16:24: “Then Jesus said to his disciples, ‘If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your corss, and follow me.’”

Mark 8:34-35: “Then, calling the crowd to join his disciples, he said, ‘If any of you wants to be my follwers, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me’…But if you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will be saved.’”

These words are red letter edition, friends.
This means that Jesus spoke this into exsistence and into the earth and its atmosphere.

First off, let me point out that Jesus did not say we HAD to follow him, he simply said, “If you want to…”.
He is a gentleman by all means. He would not force himself on anyone.
God created us with free will and minds so that we were able to make the decision for ourselves.
So the first question is: Do you really, truly WANT to be a disciple?
A want is characterized by the fact that it is to feel a want or desire for, wish for, to need, crave, demand.
Do you really WANT Jesus? Do we truly WANT to be a disciple?
You must make a choice, a decision before you go anywhere else.
You have the power and right to choose.

When you have made your decision and decided that, yes, you want to be a disciple…it doesn’t end there.
The next part says, “You must turn from your selfish ways”.
How many of us will truly admit that we are selfish?
Be truthful, we are all flesh, born into sin and it is our carnal nature to be selfish.
It is embedded into us at birth and continues to be pressed into our skulls through our wonderful society.
MUST: to be obliged or bound to by an imperative requirement.
TURN: to reverse the position or placement of.
When we decide that Jesus is who we want to follow, now is where our choices
have to end; should end; come to a halt; stop.
We have no choice in the matter of turning from our selfish ways. We have to. Its a requirement in the
Kingdom of Heaven. Its not some “legalistic” ideal or idea, its the very heart of Christ.
We have to turn ourselves away from where our fleshly human carnal selves have allowed us to be placed
and completely rotate out of this position we are “comfortable” in.

Oh, but then Jesus says I have to give up my life? Really? Truly? Is he serious?
YEP.
How in the world can an Almighty God use you if you have your own:
plan?
will?
agenda?
timeline?
routine?
HE CAN’T.

Until we come to a place where we realize that the Kindgom of Heaven is far greater and more important
than our own lives, our own bogs, our myspace and facebook pages, our trips to coffee shops and many other things we feel we MUST do….we aren’t really disciples.
Remember, Jesus asked his father, our father, that if there be any other way[other than for him to die]…to please let it be that way. But Jesus also said that if his death was his father’s will, then to let it be done.
Who is more selfless than that?
Jesus laid down his own agenda so that he could complete the will of his father and
help ensure the opportunity to bring Heaven to earth.

Lord, help me to realize that above all, that your Good News and the Kingdom of Heaven is far more important that anything involving me or my life. Help me to see it as you see it. Help me to realize that I have nothing and I am nothing without pursuing with full force to see your kingdom on this earth. I pray that these verses penetrate deep into the core of my being so that I die to myself daily, lay down my own plans for your plans and I start strategically downloading ways you want your will done. In Jesus mighty, awesome, holy and righteous name…AMEN.

So, my question to you now is:
Do you REALLY WANT to be a disciple and TURN from your selfish ways?!?