More Than Words

“Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.”
Mark 8:24 (NIV)

Have you ever sung, “I Have Decided to Follow Jesus” in church and wonder if you really mean those words?

The man who first spoke those lyrics knew exactly what they cost. In India, in the middle of the 19th century, a convert faced the village chief’s demand to renounce his faith with this statement: “I have decided to follow Jesus.”

They take the lives of his two children. “Though none go with me, still I will follow,” he continues.

After taking the life of his wife, they plan to execute him, and he sings, “The cross before me, the world behind me.” 

Jesus warns His disciples in this verse that following Him isn’t just about making a decision but about living a transformed life. When Peter tries to talk Jesus out of suffering, Jesus responds sharply: “You do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns,” (Mark 8:33, NIV). 

Jesus knows that human nature gravitates toward preserving the self in comfort and safety. But discipleship moves you in the opposite direction, toward self-denial and sacrifice. 

You might not face martyrdom today, but you can carry your cross nonetheless. Every time you choose God’s way over your own comfort, you’re living out your decision to follow Jesus. When you forgive instead of seeking revenge, serve instead of being served, or speak truth when lies would be easier, you’re proving your words with your life. 

When you decide today to follow Jesus, He’ll transform Sunday declarations into Monday demonstrations.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for showing me the way of loving sacrifice by giving yourself for me. Help me move beyond just saying I follow You to actually living like I follow You in my words and actions. Give me courage to take up my cross daily and find joy in the sacrifice. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.