Being a Christ follower is not a couch patato lifestyle. It is living in an active form. First, as Jesus said, there is a turning point. We need to turn away from our selfish ways. This means getting our focus out of our self and be Jesus-focused. We need to die to ourself and let the new life of Christ rule the way we live. It's not about "me and my" anymore. It is a counter-cultural lifestyle. If we look at the way the world operates, it will tell you to focus on yourself, satisfy yourself, do what will make you feel good. But in the world of following Jesus, we go the other way, set our self-focused life aside and turn to what will benefit the Kingdom of God. It is a bigger world with a wider perspective and eternal impact.
Secondly, there is a taking to be done. Just as Jesus Himself took His own cross, a person who decides to be a disciple of Christ has a cross to carry. Each of us has our own assignment from God. What is the specific task and purpose He wants you to do? What is the vision and mission God has given you to accomplish? God has given each of us different measures of gifts and resources. The story of the three servants in Matthew 25 illustrates this well. One was given five bags of silver, the second was given two and the third was given one. The boss then went away for a trip and when he came back he checked out what the three servants did to the bags if silver he entrusted to them. The one with the five earned five more, the one with two earned two more. But the third one, came back with the same one given him and said, "I was afraid I would lose your money, so I hid it in the earth. Look here is your money back." But the boss was furious and replied, "You wicked and lazy servant! If you knew I harvested crops I didn't plant and gathered crops I didn't cultivate, why didn't you deposit my money in the bank? At least I could have gotten some interest on it. Then he ordered. 'Take the money from this servant, and give it to the one with ten bags of silver. To those who use well what they are given, even more will be given, and they will have an abundance. But from those who do nothing, even what little they have will be taken away." Christian life does not thrive in the world of fear and laziness! It's a daily taking of the cross He has entrusted to us. There will be a time of accounting in the future. We will all face our Master and present what we have in our hands.
Thirdly, being a disciple of Christ is following His leading. It is going where He leads, learning what He teaches, living the way He lived. It is all about Jesus. Our life is all for His glory. It is actually what gives us true satisfaction and joy! It is how we are wired. Only in Jesus can we be fulfilled. We are created in His own image and likeness and He sure knows what is the way of life that will bring us the best!
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