Leadership Tips & Training Inspiring Leadership

Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.”

Matthew 16:24-25

Well! It’s that time again!  Spring is here leaning toward summer.  This is the time of year we begin to shed all the layers of clothing that we’ve used to cover what we perceive as flaws, and for some of us, the mounds of flab and flesh that’s been hidden all winter.

One of the first things that come to mind is the last thing many of us want to hear, “It’s time to go on a diet.”  I believe the word diet is so unappealing because the first three letters spell “die.” Most of us feel as though we will die if we have to “give up” those foods we love, though we know they are killing us. 

The idea behind a diet is the act of denying one’s self, setting guidelines on what you eat while initiating a plan for exercise to build a better body.  Remember, if we are to follow and work for Christ, we have to be physically able to endure what the assignment requires.

The Scripture verse noted above indicates we have to deny ourselves to follow Christ.  We have to take up our cross to follow Him. As for me, part of that cross was to give up bad eating habits and begin to exercise.  If I wanted to follow Him, I had to give up an area that was extremely difficult for me.  So then, as much as we need to be willing to deny ourselves, even that much more do we need to be willing to follow Jesus’ example by taking up our cross daily.

We have to identify our cross and then take up that cross. Your cross can be anything you believe you can’t live without. For many of us, our cross is a healthier lifestyle.  Your cross might also be drugs, alcohol, the Internet, or maybe an emotional dependence upon a person.  Whatever it is, the Bible teaches us that like Jesus, we too have to deny ourselves and dedicate our total lives to Him.

Steve Reynolds

Steve is the Senior Pastor of Capital Baptist Church in Annandale, VA.  He is also the author of the book Bod4God and the creator of the Losing to Live Weight Loss Competition.  Steve has lost over 100 pounds and has led his church to lose over 4 tons of weight.