The Pattern for Commitment

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

Are you a "halfway" Christian? Maybe you're stirred by the things of God but not truly changed by them. Friend, this is a dangerous place to be.
 
When Jesus entered Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, the crowds were caught up in the passion of the moment. They threw down their cloaks and palm branches, shouting "Hosanna!" But where were these same people just days later when the cry became "Crucify Him"? Their commitment was shallow—moved by emotion and the power of the masses.

In my own life, I've seen this pattern play out time and again. Do you a time when you, like me, where committed to a new prayer routine? For the first week we’re all in! But when the initial excitement fades, you find yourself slipping back to old habits. Sound familiar?
True commitment to Christ requires three things:

First, get the facts. Jesus isn't just a good teacher or prophet—He's God incarnate! When He declared "I am," using that phrase "Ego eimi," He was claiming divinity. You can't make a real commitment until you understand who Jesus truly is.
 
Second, count the cost. Jesus calls us to deny ourselves and take up our cross. This isn't about minor inconveniences—it's about death to self. As Dietrich Bonhoeffer reminded us, cheap grace that demands no repentance isn't grace at all.

Finally, pay the price. Like a bird resting completely on a power line, we must rest fully on Christ—not one foot in the world and one with Him. Only then can His power flow through us without destroying us.
 
Is there an area of your life where you've been stirred but not changed? Where you've made a surface-level commitment but haven't gone all in? Today, I challenge you to nail down your commitment to Christ. Say "no" to self, "no" to sin, and a wholehearted "yes" to Jesus.