Matthew 16:24 KJV
[24] Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
Economists teach about opportunity cost, which is the next highest-valued alternative use of the resources you have presently. When the time comes to decide on what to do, a lot of options will be available, and all of them may present themselves as valid. However, due to competing interests and the value and impact of time, you may not be able to do all of them at once. Whatever you give up becomes the cost of whatever you decide to do. This view applies across board to all of life; at all times, there are decisions to be made in different areas of our lives. We will not be given all the resources we need in life all the same time, which means that we will always have to review and prioritise what is key and critical at that point in time. This is the message in the verse above; it is quite relevant to note that Jesus was speaking to His disciples here. Who you are directly impacts your value system and priorities.
Just as Jesus did then, I believe this message is for specific people. It is indeed an open invitation to all men, but to understand the cost of following Jesus, and be willing to pay that price, takes commitment from men who have been broken. To even make up your mind to follow Christ means that you have sat down to count the cost of following Him, you fully understand what it would demand from you and what you may likely lose, and you are ready and willing to give up everything else for the sole purpose of following after Him and doing His will. That is where ANY MAN comes in; the gift of salvation is offered to all men, irrespective of race, creed, culture or background, and the standing promise of God is that ANYONE who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. You cannot claim to desire the gift of salvation, and still want to hold dearly to your past. Your past is the reason why Christ had to die on the cross.
His death and resurrection now makes it possible for me to deny myself and take up my cross daily. The strength and focus I need are only available in my total submission and dependence on the Holy Spirit. No man can do this by sheer human power or force of will. The devil is skilled in long-term warfare, and as his time is limited, he is desperate to take as many as he can down with him. Denying yourself means that the old man must die completely; you cannot fall back to the old man when things get tough, or when it is convenient. It is also a personal walk, first and foremost. There is a place for corporate fellowship but it is the nourishment that you have received from your private walk with God that will be of great help in the public walk and work of faith. God wants me to walk with Him. That is the most important part of this conversation. It is the path that leads to life eternal; the gift is given to all men. Please take full advantage of it. God's time of favour is here.
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