Who is in Control of your Will?

Luke 9:23

Every great battle, conquest, company, or nation has had a leader who has said follow me, and those who followed were willing to do as commanded.  It is my opinion that this statement from Jesus to the twelve has not seemed compulsory to many who are called Christian in 2015.  As we begin reading verse 23, it’s the first four words we may be reading past, “And he said to all” “All” is defined; the whole of, and that might be confusing if Jesus had not given this statement: “And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.”  (Luke 9:23) Anyone, that includes somebodies and nobodies, that includes rich and poor, that includes old folks and young folks, it’s everyone who is a follower of Christ.  We live in the culture of instant gratification and those who go by Christian are not exempt from this culture, we and I’m including me, have a I need, I want, I’m going to get nature that runs head-on into denying oneself.  So how does one follow the leader who states clearly these are the conditions for being a follower of Christ?  And I know you are looking for loopholes, it’s our nature, but it is the old nature, the one that got crucified and it is dead, yet we have learned from both the old nature and the culture how to get our needs met outside of Jesus Christ.

So what is denying self, what is taking up ones cross daily and how does one follow Christ?  For myself, it requires self to be examined and who is the easiest person for me to con, you got it, it is me, so I need accountability to a man who will tell me the truth.  It also is essential for me to understand the way God designed us; what we call our personality, the real me has a mind, emotions, and a will.  You never have made up your mind on anything, but your mind and your emotions have sent information to your will and will say yes or no.  If your will is controlled by self, the Bible calls this flesh, it will war against the Spirit that lives in you. Galatians 5:17, “For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want.”

So our problem lies at the feet of who is in control of our will, for there is a conflict, self likes to look good and even be thought of as top shelf at church, work, and with friends, but it wants to control and Jesus tells all who will come after Him, to deny self and listen to the Spirit, obey and walk with Him.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice