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.
Before even attempting to follow Jesus, you must first consider, then accept, denying yourself and taking up your cross.
Deny yourself.
Be willing to lose all your pleasures, enjoyments for the rest of your life. Not just sinful pleasures, but all pleasures. Following Jesus often involves the loss of many pleasures that people have enjoyed their whole lives. Usually people follow Jesus partially (refusing to obey some of His commands), because some of His commands interfere with their everyday pleasures. This is, of course, unacceptable. (However, following Jesus wholeheartedly always brings you new, better and longer-lasting pleasures. Psalm 16:11, 36:8, 102:14, 111:2, 2 Corinthians 4.17, 12:10, Hebrews 11:24-26, 1 Peter 1:6-7.)
Take up your cross.
Be willing to suffer things you would not suffer, if you did not follow Jesus. People often balk at obedience when it will cause them pain (the second soil in the parable of the soils). Many great and amazing pleasures are born only out of pain. For example, the fellowship of Jesus’ sufferings (Philippians 3:10).
In other words, count the cost before even starting (Luke 14:27-33), and be willing to pay the cost of following Jesus. If you fail to do this, you will probably not keep on.
Please do not be like so many people who call themselves Christians, yet refuse to follow Jesus all the way, but then claim Christianity does not work. Of course it does not work like that! Thank God it does not!
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