When Jesus called Matthew from his tax booth with just two words — “Follow Me” — it was not an invitation to comfort, convenience, or worldly success. It was a call to total surrender. Luke 9:23–26 reminds us that true discipleship is a one-way journey. There is no turning back once we genuinely commit to follow Christ. The cross we carry is not a mere symbol of hardship; it is a declaration that our lives belong entirely to Him.

To those who once followed Him for miracles and provision, Jesus’ call was clear: “If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow Me.” This is not casual faith, but radical abandonment. Denying ourselves means letting go of self-centered ambitions, comforts, pride, and even relationships that might pull us from Him. The cross is not decoration; it is dedication — a daily dying to all that competes with Christ for first place in our hearts.

Many turned away, unwilling to pay the price. Yet for those who recognize His worth, no cost is too high. What does the world offer compared to the eternal gain of a soul? Earthly treasures fade, but the one who loses their life for Christ finds it forever. The road is narrow and the cost is great, but the destination is glory. There is only one path to heaven, stamped by the blood of the Lamb, freely given to all who surrender fully. How might embracing this call to radical discipleship transform the way you live each day?