Costly

Read

Matthew 16:24 "Then Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.’"

Think

I often hear people say they want to be the hands and feet of Jesus, but we quickly forget—those hands and feet were pierced by nails. Following Jesus is a beautiful calling, but it comes with a cost. It’s easy to serve when it’s rewarding, but Jesus’ path was one of pain and sacrifice. He made it clear that discipleship isn’t comfortable; it’s about carrying a cross (Luke 9:23). To follow him truly, we must be ready for what that means.

We often think of being his hands and feet as giving to the needy, serving at church, or praying for others. While these are important, Jesus calls us deeper. It’s about stepping into brokenness, loving difficult people, and walking through seasons of confusion and pain, trusting God even when we don’t understand. It means enduring hardship and sacrificing comfort because following him means embracing both the joy and the suffering that come with the cross.

But here’s the beauty: every sacrifice brings something greater. The nails that pierced Jesus' hands led to the world’s salvation. The cost we endure while following him leads to transformation—both in our lives and those we touch. Jesus uses our pain and struggles to shape us and bring hope to others.

So, when we say we want to be the hands and feet of Jesus, we need to understand that it’s not always easy. There will be moments of sacrifice and hardship, but they have purpose. Jesus endured the cross because he knew the joy and redemption that would come from it (Hebrews 12:2). Similarly, when we walk with him, even through the difficulties, we can trust that God is using every step for something far greater than we can imagine.

Apply

Identify one area in your life where following Jesus feels uncomfortable or challenging. Make a small but intentional choice to trust him in that area—whether showing kindness to someone difficult, forgiving someone, or stepping out of your comfort zone to serve and do it!

Pray

Lord, thank you for the invitation to follow Jesus, even with challenges. Help me to trust you in the difficult moments and to remember that you are with me every step of the way. Give me the courage to take up my cross daily and follow you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.