I am really tired of people, Christians, always saying it id too hard to follow the Bible, and then go with the world. I really am. I am really tired of myself doing that. It got me to thinking about how hard it was for Jesus to be down on earth, living with sinful people, then having to suffer and die for them, so they could have Salvation. It got me to thinking how a lot of Christians want to take the easy way out and ‘go with the flow’ - the worldly flow.

Jesus could’ve taken the easy way out - He didn’t have to die on the cross. He could have said, “You know what, none of my disciples are even standing by Me, all these people hate Me and have rejected Me, so I don’t want to give MY body to save THEM from their own sin.” That would have been the easy way out for Jesus. He could have defide God. He was God. He could have struck all those people who wanted to kill Him dead on the spot, but no, He suffered and died so I could live - so YOU could live.

Jesus said in Matthew 16:24 “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.” He is saying that if you can’t bear what He bear for you, for His names’ sake, you aren’t worthy to follow Him. He says this numerous times. Luke 9:23
says “And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.” DAILY. Did you see that word? He said daily. What I am get from this Scripture is that everyday, all the time, think of what He would do, take up your cross and do it. If it is as simple as being nice to your sister or brother, or honouring your parents by cleaning their house. Whatever it is, do it as Jesus would.

What He is saying, to put it in plain words, is this - “If you aren’t willing to lay all you have down for My sake, your Saviour, Redeemer, and Lord, you are not worthy to be MY follower.” How can it be any plainer?

I guess what I am tired of is the Christian people who don’t follow God’s Ten Commandments, who don’t follow His lead, who don’t want to take the time to find out what the Bible really says instead of getting an interpretation (yes, it is an interpretation) from their pastors, and whose hearts aren’t right with God. Jocelyn once wrote an article, that came to mind as I am writing this, called It’s Not Always Light- N-Fluffy. I think you should read it for yourself. I really got ‘enlightened’ so to speak reading it. I think you might want to give it a try.

Lately, this subject has been on my mind. It seems like it’s always too hard to be nice to my younger siblings, it’s too hard to stay up for that extra hour so Momma can get something done on the computer, it’s too hard to clean the kitchen AGAIN. It’s too hard, I can’t, too hard… That ain’t nothin’ compared to what Jesus suffered. Jesus wasn’t always comfortable. I bet He wasn’t too comfortable when He was being whipped and nailed to the cross. That’s the problem with a lot of Christians today - EVERYTHING has to be comfortable. If it doesn’t feel right, they don’t do it. Sometimes you have to do things that are uncomfortable. Jesus had to all the time.

Jesus did say it wouldn’t be easy to follow Him, as many of His followers said. No, it would be very hard. But in Hebrews 12:2, it does say this, “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” He is on the right hand of God, He endured the cross, for whose sake? YOURS and MINE. But if you aren’t willing to take up your cross, you aren’t worthy -

Matthew 10:38
And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.

Luke 14:27
And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.

You leave your cross behind, you don’t count as following. When you go rock-climbing, you need cables right, to hold you up? Well, think of your cross as the cable that is holding you to God. If you leave your cable behind, how can you climb the steep rocky edge? You can’t; you won’t be able to. You need to make sure you are equipped for the Narrow Road you will be climbing up. If you aren’t, you just might fall off the edge.

The Jewish leaders mocked Jesus when He was on the cross, saying (Mark 15:30) “Save thyself, and come down from the cross.” (Matthew 27:42) “He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him.” They wanted a sign. They didn’t go to the Scriptures and saw the many prophecies Christ was fulfilling. It says in Matthew 16:4 - “A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas. And he left them, and departed.” You are wicked if you ask for a sign to know that God is God. Jesus said in John 20:29 -

Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.

You want a sign, I’ll tell you where to find one - go outside and look at the sky, go smell a flower, touch the trunk of a tree, or look in the mirror. You have the signs and wonders of God all around you. All you need to do is open your eyes. You can’t have blind faith when following God.

The Apostle Paul said in Galatians 6:12 - “As many as desire to make a fair shew in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised; only lest they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ.” That means it’s not always going to be easy, not always going to be comfortable. It *will* be difficult. Jesus said you will suffer as *I* have suffered. I am glad I can suffer like my Dear Saviour did. It’s not too hard. All I have to do is make an effort to do it. Because you know that saying, Where there’s a will, there’s a way? If you have the will to follow God, and want to be like Jesus and Walk In HIS Steps, then you can. I’d rather walk in the dark with my Jesus, then walk in the light alone.

Please do not think that I am being judgmental about Christians, I am simple stating what I believe. I wrote this post for you all to be encouraged, not to think I am being a snob. I am only trying to be an encouragement to you, my fellow Brothers and Sisters in Him. I do hope I am.

Walking This Narrow Road,

Matthew 5:14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.

I hope you have enjoyed reading the thoughts and happenings of a fourteen-year-old girl from the country. “You can do all things through CHRIST who strengthens you!” Philippians 4:13