Games in the Sand

“If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” Juke 9:23

When I was a little girl at the beach, I would always marvel at all of the footprints in the sand. There were so many leading in so many different directions. I would survey the choices and choose a set of prints in which to walk on the beach. I would stretch my legs from one impression to another. Certain truths were obvious about all of these journeys. I didn’t know who made the impression, I didn’t know where the impressions were leading and they certainly never fit my own personal stride.

Christ exhorts the commands in this verse in order to live a spirit-filled life. He offers the invitation to everyone and anyone without exclusion. Come after is defined as ‘reaching to a particular point or being brought into a particular state’. ‘Coming after Christ’ is the intentional pursuit of the intended goal to receive Him. Deny is defined as ‘not allowing yourself something.’ To find Christ we must not allow ourselves to live the flesh-filled life. The spirit-filled life cannot live in harmony with the flesh-filled life…a choice must be made. They cannot live side by side in the heart of a Christian. Our flesh may momentarily win out but the Spirit-filled life immediately recognizes the ‘slip’, repents and turns away from that activity or attitude.

Taking up our cross is to purposely choose the mind and ways of God. It is the intentional attitude of embracing both good and bad in our path with Christ. When we suffer there is unique and divine fellowship with God as He moves us through that pain and moves us out of that pain. We are to consistently and daily pick up His work on the cross and bear the heavy responsibility of bringing all to Him.

Following Christ is to intentionally choose the path laid before us and to place our feet in the steps of Christ. We will replace our earthly truths with His absolute truths.

Back to my childhood games in the sand…we can know Who made the impressions for which we are stretching our legs to fill and we can know that wherever the impressions lead is for our good and gain. We can most assuredly know that the impressions for which we walk will be unique to us and perfect in stride.

May we each follow the footprints of God on our seashores of life and follow where He leads.