Is following Jesus difficult?

Any Christian who will say it is easy to follow Jesus is not following him in truth. To follow after Jesus is very hard, it is not an easy task. To be a Christian is not just to enjoy the benefits of the redemptive work of Christ credited into your account. Following after Jesus wholeheartedly will cost you everything, it can even cost you your very life for his name sake. It is not an easy thing to be a Christian, to be a follower of the way, and yet there is no greater joy in serving and following Jesus.

Why is following Jesus difficult?

Following after Jesus Christ is difficult, because it involves self denial

Jesus stated emphatically: Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me (Matthew 16; 24).

He is saying that we must lay aside our own will, and we must seek to do his will. For example, his will for us is this: But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you (Matthew 5; 44).

It is against our nature to love show love to our enemies, and not to talk about praying for those who despitefully uses and persecute us. It is not easy, but since our Master bids us to do so, we ought to deny ourselves to do it.

Or if you have a desire to engage in immorality, the scriptures on the other hand also says: For this is the will of God, your sanctification; that is, that you abstain from sexual immorality (1 Thessalonians 4; 3). So you see, following after Jesus means you are not at liberty to do whatever you want. But whatever Jesus commands us in his word is for own good. So, to follow after Jesus means that we must deny ourselves, and align our will to his will which in itself is not easy, but it is worth it. 

Following after Jesus is difficult, because it comes with persecution and sufferings

Apostle Paul wrote by the Holy Spirit saying: Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted (2 Timothy 3; 12). Persecution is inevitable in the Christian life. Once we have decided in our heart to follow after Jesus, we will experience some level of persecution and sufferings for his sake. You can lose important relationships, powerful connections, friends and family relatives, because of your association with the Lord Christ. Following after Jesus itself can lead to your death.

Most of the early apostles and disciples of Christ died as Martyrs for his name sake. Even certain brethren in our days are being hated and killed all because they have chosen to follow after Jesus. I must confess that we must count it an honor to suffer for Christ sake, for the sufferings of the present time which is but for a moment, are not worthy to be compared to the glory which shall be revealed in us. The glory which awaits us far surpasses the sufferings of our present time.

Following after Jesus is difficult, because of the lifelong struggle between the flesh and the Spirit.

In our unregenerate state, we only had our sinful nature, but from the moment we became born again, we received a new nature. There is a constant struggle between our sinful nature and our new nature. We hate sin and wishes to be delivered from it, yet we still sin, though sin has been dethroned from it's seat. But through the aid of the Holy Spirit, we can subdue the flesh and it's desires. Only Christian's experience this internal struggle with sin (Romans 7; 14-25).

To follow after Jesus is difficult, it is not child's play, but the rewards which awaits us is nothing in comparison with the troubles we go through here (Romans 8; 17). God bless you 

A thought to ponder 🤔 

The glory which awaits us far surpasses the sufferings of our present time

We defend and exposit the truth of the gospel

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