Believer vs. Follower

Thanks to all the girls who came out to 4:ForTeen tonight! Hanna and I are thrilled to get to be a part of your lives and are looking forward to studying God's Word with you all this year.

Tonight, we read Matthew 16:24-25 when discussing what the difference is between being a believer in Christ and a follower of Christ:

"Then Jesus said to his disciples, 'If anyone would come after me,

he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.'"

Christ doesn't say that if you want to come after Him, simply climb on His back and He'll carry you the whole way. Rather, He says that you must deny yourself, that you must take up your cross, and follow Him. In order to follow Christ, you must act; you must do something. The Lord will pursue you - He will reach out His hand - but He will not force you to go with Him, you must CHOOSE to follow daily!