Consistency… is it just me or does that word disturb you too? Every time I hear that word, my mind quickly formulates a list of things that are inconsistent in my life. Have you been there? What does your list look like? Every day that I live for God is a struggle to maintain ‘consistency.’
Do you ever wonder what God must think about us and our inconsistencies? Let’s take Peter as an example…
One of Peter’s shining moments is when Jesus asked the question, “Who do people say that I am?” and Peter answered by saying, “You are the Christ!” Wow! Peter figured it out! He realized that Jesus was the Messiah, the Anointed One of Israel. Imagine how happy this must have made Jesus feel!
Well, in the very next section of Scripture (Luke 9:21ff), Jesus began to tell His disciples how that it was His destiny to suffer many things, be rejected by the religious leaders and killed. This did not sit too well with Peter, so he took Jesus aside to explain how He was wrong. Can you imagine? Jesus’ next words are all too familiar. The Bible says in Mark 8:33, “… he rebuked Peter, saying, ‘Get thee behind me, Satan…’” Peter must have been crushed!
Consistency… if Peter doesn’t have it, how do I have a chance? Jesus answers that question in the very next verse. He said,
“If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.” (Luke 9:23-24, ESV)
In life, we all struggle and fail sometimes—God’s grace and mercy are there for us when we do! When failures come—and we disappoint our Savior once again—we must get up and try again. Jesus’ teaching was clear, we must deny ourselves—our thoughts, our agendas and our desires—and take up our cross daily and follow him!
Being a disciple of Jesus Christ will cost you! Discipleship is not discipleship if it costs you nothing! Jesus calls us to lose our lives for His sake, and when we do, we will find new life in Him. What has following Jesus cost you?