The Choice is Yours *This Lenten devotional was prepared and presented for the 2024 Lent Worship and Dinner series, of Dauphin Way U.M.C. in Mobile, Alabama. PastorAEW was honored to be their pulpit guest.
Matthew 16:24 NLT… Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me”.
Introduction: When you don’t know where you are going, any road will take you there.
The Christian (who claims to be on the way to meet God) must know that the road is narrow (Matthew 7:13-14).
Transition: Who Jesus is (vs. 13-20) gives way to what Jesus does (vs. 21-28).
Peter voices the typical posture of humanity, which is escapism. So, Jesus uses this as a teachable moment on what it means to be a disciple of and for Jesus Christ.
Exposition: If you’re going to make the right choice about following Jesus, then there are some questions you should consider…
–What do you want? (Then Jesus said to his disciples, If any of you wants to be my follower)
In the middle of life is an ‘if’.
–How bad do you want it? (you must give up your own way)
Lay it down!
–What are you waiting for? (take up your cross, and follow me)
Pick it up and live it out!
Conclusion: “He is no fool who forsakes what he cannot keep, to gain what he cannot lose”. ~Phillip James Elliott
Antonie E. Walker Ministries 