In review of Matthew 16:24 it says, “Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You’re not in the driver’s seat; I am”
Bottom Line:
Give up on your way and let Jesus take the drivers seat
What this means to me:
If I truly want to follow Jesus and be his disciple, then I must give up on my way and let him take the lead (be in the drivers seat).
Today's passage comes from Matthew chapter 16 where Jesus predicts his death. Jesus began to tell his disciples plainly that it was necessary for him to go to Jerusalem and while there that he would suffer many terrible things at the hands of the elders and religious teachers. He would be killed, but on the third day he would be raised from the dead. Peter, however, began to reprimand Jesus for saying such things. Jesus turned to Peter and said, "get away from me, you're a dangerous trap for me. You are seeing things merely from a human point of view, and not from God's". Jesus then told his disciples, "If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up on your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. Trying to hang on to one's life will make you end up losing it. However, if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. What would it benefit you to gain this whole world but lose your own soul?
This is what I’m learning about letting go and letting God take control:
First, I need to continue to make Jesus the manager of my life. The problem is, I usually want to be my own manager, and as such I argue, disagree or just ignore God. I think I know what’s best. The reason for stress is that I’m constantly fighting God in my mind, “I know God says to do this but I want to do that instead!”
Each day when I wake up, I have a decision to make: Who’s going to be in charge of my life? Who’s going to be in control; me or God? Who’s going to call the shots; me or God? Every day, moment-by-moment, I need to make that decision. Whenever I choose to make myself the manager of my own life, it causes conflict, confusion, and stress.
Jesus says in Matthew 16:24, “Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You’re not in the driver’s seat; I am” (MSG). However, I often give him the driver’s seat and then promptly hop into the backseat and become backseat drivers. Constantly giving him “advice,” like, “No, turn this way. Stop. Wait. Faster! I want to go that way. I want to see that sight.”
Life won’t look very good when you’re trying to lead with God at the same time. I need to just let God be God and make Jesus the manager of my life.
Today I will consider areas of my life where I have concerns and stress. If I gave them back over to him, what would it look like? What difference would it make?
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