When I was a kid, I was a devoted fan of the Dallas Cowboys football team. I owned Dallas Cowboys shirts, socks, pajamas, blankets, and more. Over the years, my devotion to the team has certainly faded. In fact, I am not that big of fan anymore. I do not really have a favorite football team anymore, and it is probably fair to say that I have become a “bandwagon fan” of whatever team is winning.
“Bandwagon fan” is a term given to someone who has not shown loyalty to the team in the past and only supports them because the team is doing well. Bandwagon fans can be temperamental; here today and gone tomorrow.
There is something to be said for those who are loyal, dedicated, and devoted to a team. There is something to be said for those who follow the team faithfully through all the ups and downs that come with each season.
A large crowd was following Jesus as he walked in the fourteenth chapter of Luke. While it appears they all want to follow Jesus, He turns around and tells them what it truly means to follow Him.
“If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes,
and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.” Luke 14:26-27
While many had seemed to be interested in what Jesus had to say, Jesus makes it clear that in order to follow Him, we cannot be bandwagon fans. To truly follow Him, and take Him up on His invitation, we must become devoted followers. When Jesus uses the word “hate,” He is saying that we will need to love Him most. That nothing else can take first place. And when He says that we “must bear our own cross,” it means that following Him will cost us something. It may not be an easy road at times, whether it is persecution, the things we must give up, or something else. There is always a cost in choosing to follow Him. But following Jesus is the greatest decision we could ever make. When we are devoted to Him, we have everything to gain. The Apostle Paul said that all the things he gave up to follow Jesus, he now counts as worthless … worthless compared with knowing Jesus. (Philippians 3:7-11)
Not only do we have everything to gain in following Him , but when we love Jesus most, we love others best. Following Him, abiding in Him, and truly knowing Him fills us with His love, and His love overflows into the lives of those around us. Whether it is our spouse, our children, our parents, coworkers, or friends; when we love Him most, we love others best.
In addition, our true devotion to Jesus also inspires devotion in others. The greatest sermon we will ever preach is that of a life devoted to Jesus. It is obvious when someone is devoted to Jesus. They are more loving, caring, encouraging, helpful, and bold. It is not what we do; it is who we are because of our sincere and pure devotion to our Savior. When we follow Jesus with devotion, our lives serve as a devotional of encouragement to others, a spiritual lifeline for those far from God.
How devoted are you to Jesus today? If He stood before you today and asked you to go and sell all you had and to follow Him, would you do it? Why or why not? And if you say yes to that, would you stick with it … at all costs? What would stand to lose by being fully devoted to Him? But better yet, what would you stand to gain?
For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. Matthew 16:25
-Pastor Robert