Total Surrender

A fan will try and accept the invitation of Christ to follow, but they don't want to say no to themselves. In Luke 9:23 Jesus makes it clear that if we are going to follow Him, a casual no-strings-attached arrangement isn't a possibility: If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself. . .


A follower makes a decision every day to deny himself and choose Jesus. . . even if it costs everything. When we sacrificially deny ourselves for Christ's sake it is the clearest evidence of our committed love. A committed love is best demonstrated through sacrifice.

One way fans try to follow Jesus without denying themselves is by compartmentalizing the areas of their lives they don't want Him to have access to. . . Following Jesus requires a complete and total commitment.

The Bible would describe a follower as a "slave." . . A slave has no rights. A slave has no possessions to call their own. A slave in Jesus' day didn't even have a personal identity. . . But "slave" is the way many of the followers of Christ introduce themselves. . . One of the reasons it's so hard for us to deny ourselves is because the whole idea seems to go against our greatest desire in life . . . (which) is to be happy. . . The Bible would teach that the highest calling for you is to be a slave who denies himself and follows Jesus. . . You can't call Jesus Lord without declaring yourself His slave.

When we accept the invitation to deny ourselves and follow Jesus, we become His slaves. . . So out of love we become a slave to Jesus. . . It's only by becoming a slave to Jesus that we ever truly find freedom. We think that by denying ourselves we will miss out, but just the opposite is true. . .It's only when we deny ourselves that we truly discover the joy of following Christ. . . My master will provide for you. . . He can take care of your needs. . . My master has the power to forgive sins. . . My master gives rest. . . He makes you His son, His daughter. He calls you a friend.

 -From "Not a Fan" by Kyle Idleman

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