![[Graphic of a quotation]](http://www.deankwilson.com/Blog_images/catering_to_ourselves.jpg)
| “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.” |
| —Matthew 16:24b |
Growing up in the early 1950s, roadside signs conveyed messages that today we might see on bumper stickers. Most people in those days would not imagine defacing their cars by pasting something on the shiny chrome bumper.
One sign that was very popular in my neck of the woods read: “Let Go and Let God.” That sentiment, in five tiny words, expresses a key concept that leads to an ever-maturing Christian life.
We cannot live the “Christ-life” strictly through our own efforts. In fact, our efforts alone will squash any hope of achieving all that God wants us to be, as His dearly loved children.
It’s almost as if an attitude of complete self-reliance will eventually squander the high price Christ paid for our salvation when He shed His precious blood on the cross.
Notice what Jesus says to His disciples, as recorded in Matthew 16:24-26:
Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.
“For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?”
Yes, “Let Go and Let God” offers a succinct guideline to a spiritually healthy life. Let’s begin this new day by consciously and purposefully surrendering our wills to God’s perfect will for us. If we do, God will lovingly lead us along the pathway that He has laid out before us.
We will discover a new joy. This new joy comes from allowing God to use us for His purpose and for His glory.
