Minute by Minute

Following Christ is not an effort here and there, it a consistent daily - minute by minute working (living) out your salvation. 

Jesus said, "If you love Me you will keep My commandments" John 14:21 and these are His commandments; Love the Lord your God With all your hearts, mind and strength and the second is like it, Love your neighbor as yourself" Mark 12:29-31.  Can you love someone with all your hear mind and strength when you spend little if any time with them?  Jesus said if you want to be his disciple that you must deny yourself, pick up your cross and follow him Matt. 16:24.

DENY
Denying yourself doesn't mean that we go live in a cave in the side of a mountain somewhere, it means that we bring the desires we have that are not God honoring under His Lordship.  In fact it means our entire self must be subservient to Christ and His position of Lord of our lives.  We are crucified, buried and resurrected in Christ Jesus.  Matt 16:25 says, "For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

PICK UP
We are told to, "pick up our cross daily" Luke 9:23.  So often we want to pick up next weeks cross, "Oh no, our insurance is due" or, "I have to meet so and so and do such and such".  Is it proper to prepare?  Yes, but to stress out and be consumed by tomorrows things only distracts us from today's true potential.

What about those of us who want to "pick up" yesterday's cross.  If you live in the past you will miss the present.  It's over.  Paul says, "I press on towards the mark of the higher calling not looking back Phil. 3: 13-15. If you put your hand to the plow and keep looking over your shoulder, your furrow will be crooked or you will run into a tree.  Today is wasted when picking up tomorrow's cross or yesterday's cross today.

FOLLOW

Those who followed Christ, left their nets - wept for forgiveness - could not bury their dead - had to give their wealth to the poor - forgo inspecting a purchased field - had to not check out cattle they just bought - had to leave the spouse they married  had to love Christ more than their family and themselves Matthew 10:36-38.  Although the cross is easy and the burden is light it is still a cross.  Following Christ is being led by the Spirit.