A Fan or a Follower?

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."

There are two types of fans when it comes to sports teams.

First, there are the fair-weather fans. These are the ones who are there when the team is winning. They ride the wave of success and enjoy the excitement that comes with victory. You can count on them when times are good and the winning percentage is high. They love a winner.

The second type of fan is where the word fanatic comes from. They are devoted to their team regardless of the score or the standings. They are in the stands no matter how bad the weather, cheering and encouraging their team. The thought of switching allegiance to another team never crosses their minds.

I see a parallel in the Christian life.

There are fair-weather Christians who follow Christ when life is good, prayers are being answered, and blessings are abundant. Then there are devoted followers who remain faithful through hardship, disappointment, persecution, and suffering. Their commitment is not based on circumstances but on their love for Christ.

Jesus never called people to be admirers. He called them to be disciples.

Matthew 16:24
"If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me."

Taking up one's cross is not a picture of convenience or comfort. It is a picture of complete surrender and unwavering loyalty. Christ calls us to follow Him not only when the path is easy, but also when it is difficult.

As followers of Jesus, we must choose what kind of loyalty we will have toward Him. Our level of devotion is rooted in our understanding of who He is and what He has done for us. Unlike a sports team that may never know we exist, Christ is personally acquainted with us. He knows our names, our struggles, our fears, and our failures. His commitment to us is complete.

With Gratitude, Pastor Jesse