Fine Print: Die Daily — Friday
Matthew 16:24
Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.“ (NIV)
A few years ago, my family drove up to visit my wife’s parents for Christmas in Ohio. Somewhere along the way, it started snowing. Now, this wasn’t your typical snowfall. This was a true whiteout that dropped several inches of snow in a matter of hours. We probably should have pulled over and waited until morning, but because I’m a little stubborn, we trudged onward. Everything was going well until we got off the interstate to drive the last 30 minutes to their house. There were no cars to follow. There were no tire tracks. There was no road… just endless snow. I was immobilized because I had no idea how to stay on the road when I didn’t even know where the road was.
Arianne’s dad, however, did know the road. He’d driven it hundreds of times and, thankfully, drove out to meet us and lead us. In that moment, I gave him all of my trust. I focused my eyes on his car and made sure my tires followed his tracks the whole drive. I won’t say I wasn’t still scared of driving off the side of the road, but I had faith that he knew where we were going.
In today’s verse, Jesus calls us to deny ourselves and follow Him. When I read this verse, I think of that drive to my in-laws’ house. When Jesus says, “Follow me,” it’s not because He’s a control freak. He simply knows the best way forward. He’s asking you to surrender control. He’s asking you to focus your eyes on Him and allow Him to direct your path.
We eventually made it to my in-laws’ house. It wasn’t easy. I was exhausted, tense, and terrified, but we were safe. Similarly, Jesus never promises that following Him will be easy. There will be seasons of stress and fear. But I can promise you this: There’s no one who knows the path better, and there’s absolutely no one else worth following.
Friday’s Reflection
Are you following Jesus with your life? Are there paths you are trudging through on your own? Make the decision today to focus your eyes on Him and allow Him to lead you home.