Clean Living

How to Come Back to God After Backsliding

October 28, 2023 | by Guest Author Spiritual Growth

This place I’m in feels familiar – soil I haven’t been planted on in years, the presence of God. The strange smell that my spirit sent up to Him was one that reeked of sin, disobedience and rebellion. I found myself at a crossroads between continuing to indulge in self-gratifying pleasures or resuming the journey of pursuing the woman God destined me to be. I had been running the streets of the enemy’s territory far longer than I intended and was ready to come back home to God. My physical body was in the world, but my heart remained with God. I knew better. After years of toiling with resuming my spiritual journey, I finally decided to go back home. And I’m so glad that Jehovah Mekoddishkem (The Lord Who Sanctifies) saw me coming down the road (Luke 15:20).

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As Christians we often hear about the unbeliever. But we don’t hear about the “backslider” enough. These are the children of God who have roots planted in the soil of Christ and branches that display their foundational relationship with Him. They bear the sweet fruit of wisdom, scripture and faith. They were raised in church and have all five senses awakened to their spiritual gifts and intimacy with God. These are the Saints who know right from wrong; good from evil. But what happens when that person finds themselves living the lifestyle of a sinner? Or more importantly, what should they do when they want to come back to God and don’t know how to forward? Here are three things to do immediately in your relationship with God after He has welcomed you back home:

Repent

The story of the Prodigal Son is one of my favorites in the Bible (Luke 15:11-32). This story was told to demonstrate the relationship between the “backslider” and God. It exemplifies the all-encompassing grace and mercy of God. Repentance is an apology to God. In this story, when the son returns home, he first acknowledges his wrongdoings. I believe true repentance is a three-step process.

1. Postured Heart (Proverbs 21:2).

What are the motives of your heart? The only verse I side-eye in this triumphant story is verse 17. I question the son’s reason for returning home with his family. It seems to only be because of hunger. Do you genuinely want to seek God? Did you return home because you sincerely wanted to or for reasons unrelated to seeking God and His purpose for you? Unlike the Prodigal Son, may we come back to God because we love Him. But, even when our motives are impure, God is merciful and kind. Like the father in Luke 15, God welcomes us with open arms and restores our position despite our own unfaithfulness.

2. Confession (1 John 1:9).

Call those sins out by name. If we are bold enough to commit those sins, then we should be bold enough to name them when repenting. It’s exactly like when a friend hurts us and they only say, “I’m sorry.” Some of us follow up with, “Sorry for what?” When we confess, we admit what went wrong.

3. Commitment (Psalms 119:1).

Stay the course. This isn’t about making promises to God that we can’t keep because the bible warns us against that. This is about making intentional and deliberate decisions to live a lifestyle that exemplifies Christ. If we examine our lives and see all the things we’re committed to: work, hobbies, relationships, fitness, self-care practices, etc., we’ll see that we can apply that same level of commitment in our pursuit of God.

Rewind

Coming fresh out of a lifestyle of sin is an overwhelming feeling. There are many emotions that flood us in uneasy waves. Fear, joy, relief, anxiety, peace and confusion are a few of them. My biggest fear when returning from rebellion is that I’ll quickly slip-up and travel back down that dark ominous road. How can I resubmit to God on Day 1 and then overcome temptation on Day 2? The following scripture is the first thing to remember.

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”
2 Corinthians 12:9

It is also important to rewind mentally and spiritually and discover where things went wrong so that you can avoid taking destructive steps in the future. Here are some solid questions to ask yourself when you think back on how you ended up in that backslidden state.

Did you turn to sin on your own or were you influenced by someone or something? How can you work on self-discipline and creating boundaries/ending those relationships?
Did a negative event(s) happen that caused you to spiral? If so, what was it/they? What are your triggers? What alternative methods could you implement whenever you’re faced with a similar situation in the future?
What sin(s) did you struggle with during that time? What scriptures can you use to identify that sin and overcome it? Are there any other positive outlets you can utilize when temptation arises?
Outside of pleasure – what other emotions did you experience while living this lifestyle (happiness, satisfaction, freedom, etc.)? How can you learn to use godly behavior to experience these exact same emotions?

Restart

After you rewind, it’s time to restart. The beautiful thing about God is that He is forgiving. His response to us coming home is exactly like the father in this story. He embraces us, kisses us, clothes us in a new wardrobe, grants us access back to his unlimited supplies and luxuries, replenishes us with a hearty meal, and ends everything with a celebration. He desires closeness with us and wants us to become all that He has called us to be. Here are a few things to remember as you begin to get back on track in your spiritual life.

You are forgivable (Psalm 103:12).
You are made new (2 Corinthians 5:17).
You are imperfect (Romans 3:23).
You can do it (2 Timothy 1:7).
You are purposed (Romans 8:28).

Take the time out to create a plan for how your next 30 days with God will look. This should include things that you are willing to sacrifice, how much time you will spend with Him, and what things you personally need to work on as you grow closer to Christ. The road ahead will take intentionality, discipline, and effort. But it’s worth it. Becoming all God has called you to be is always worth it.

Malia Johnson

Malia was born and raised in the city of the Chiefs, delicious BBQ and beautiful fountains, Kansas City, MO. She has a heart for empowering women to become the best version of themselves through the power of Christ. With an extensive history in the Mass Communications field, Malia quickly discovered her passion for writing. “It brings me so much happiness to know that my words help change lives.” When she’s not trying out local food spots or spending time with her fur baby, she’s writing for her Christian-based online magazine, The Art Of A Queen’s Hustle.

5 Great Daily Devotional Books for Women

October 17, 2023 | by Shanté Grossett O'Neal Christian Living

A daily devotional can be a great tool to help you grow in your faith and strengthen your relationship with God. They are usually short and focus on one passage of scripture. A good Christian devotional writer will explain the passage and then will share helpful applications for Christian life. Devotionals are great because they can be both simple and in-depth at the same time. They are especially great for women navigating transition seasons, feeling short on time, wanting to reignite their relationship with God, or are brand new to Christianity. While devotionals should not be the only part of your Christian spiritual walk, they can be a helpful part of it.

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What is a devotional?

Ray Deck III writes that a devotional is not meant to change your mind, it’s meant to change your heart. Devotionals are not meant to be theologically robust, comment on the Bible, or teach you something new about the faith. Instead, they draw on what you already know about scripture and provide space to meditate upon and put scripture into practice.

What to look for in a Christian devotional?

Not all devotionals are made equal. When looking for a Christian devotional, there are some things to consider.

Look for a devotional that points you back to God and Christ.

Some devotionals are mostly inspirational and focus more on meeting temporary needs than drawing us back to Christ. When choosing a devotional, we want to look for one that gets us thinking more about God than about ourselves.

Look for a devotional that uses scripture

Believe it or not, some devotionals don’t use scripture. Avoid choosing one like this.

Look for a devotional that is accurate in its interpretation of scripture

This one can be tricky especially if you are new to Christianity. However, we want to be careful that our devotional isn’t giving us a wrong message about God and Christianity. We don’t want to read something that just sounds good but isn’t theologically accurate. Instead, it needs to be faithful to the message of scripture. As you read your devotional, be sure to compare the author’s words against the message of scripture.

Look for a devotional that includes space for reflection

Reflection questions are great because they invite us to stop and think about what we have read. Instead of just reading and going about your day, spending time in reflection leads us to think about what we have read throughout the day.

What are the benefits of using a daily devotional?

I used to avoid devotionals at all costs and thought they were shallow and unhelpful for my spiritual growth. I was so wrong.

If you are more of an intellectual type of person and you enjoy diving deeply into the Bible, you can run the risk of gathering a lot of head knowledge and not enough heart knowledge. A good devotional will help you to avoid that.

A devotional is also great for women in transition seasons. Maybe you just moved to a new state, you’re a new mom with new responsibilities, or you just accepted a new role in your job. It can be difficult to adjust to these changes. Devotionals usually take 10-15 minutes and they can be pretty beneficial for women who are short on time and still want to spend time with God.

5 Great Daily Devotionals for Women

Knowing God – J.I. Packer

This isn’t exactly a devotional, but many people use it in this way. It focused on knowing about God and knowing God through our relationship with Christ. It’s great for Christians who enjoy reading about theology and Biblical scholarship, and would like to meditate on theological truths about God in a more practical way.

Upon Waking: 60 Daily Reflections to Discover Ourselves and the God We Were Made For – Jackie Hill Perry

This is a newer book by Jackie Hill Perry. It releases on October 3rd but I have had the privilege of reading some of the excerpts. After reading Jackie Hill Perry’s previous books, I have no doubt that this one will be great as well. Like Knowing God, this devotional book can help us discover God and discover who we are in light of who God is.

Faithful: Recalling the Goodness of the Lord – Shante Grossett O’Neal, Sammy Porter, & 28 more

I curated and edited this book that features the stories of thirty women who have encountered the faithfulness of God. This devotional is especially useful to anyone dealing with hardship or challenges and need to be reminded of God’s presence with them through life’s situations. If you are more of an ebook kind of person, there’s an e-book available here on our website.

The Book of Common Courage: Prayers and Poems to Find Strength in Small Moments – K.J. Ramsey

The book of Common Courage is a book of prayer and poems inspired by Psalm 23. This is a great book for anyone who needs to find strength amidst anxiety, chronic illness, trauma or any other hardship of life. Through these prayers and poems, we are reminded that God is still with us even in the midst of pain.

The 12 Week Jesus Bible Study: Readings and Reflections for Women to Grow Closer to Christ – Shanté Grossett O’Neal

I wrote this book for women who want to spend more time reading the Gospels but may not know where to start. These reflections focus on Jesus’ life, ministry and his interaction with women. They cover topics such as devotion to God, doubt, anxiety and fear, forgiveness and rest.

Online Devotional Apps for Women

If you prefer to use an app for your devotions, here are a few that I recommend:

She Reads Truth – SRT offers Bible Studies and devotionals. They publish new studies regularly and you can follow along with each study directly in the app. I wrote a devotional for their study on Amos.

YouVersion Bible App – it features many Bible Reading Plans covering various topics surrounding Christian life. Many of these are five or seven day devotionals.

Lectio365 – Lectio 365 is an app that uses the ancient Christian practice of Lectio Divina to structure its devotionals. There is a morning reading and a night reading, and you can follow along directly in the app. It also includes audio for those who are commuting, making breakfast, or attending to other tasks while using the devotional.

Two Short Term Digital Devotionals available in the Daily She Pursues Shop

I didn’t want to end this article without pointing you to two short term devotionals that I wrote.

The first is called When You Are Waiting on God: 7 Devotions to Encourage and Strengthen Your Faith in the Waiting. It’s for those dealing with painful, long seasons of waiting.

The second is a devotional with reflections from a recent trip I took to Israel. This one is called Reflections From the Holy Land: Inspiring Devotions on the Life of Christ. It centers on the places that are important in Christ’s ministry and provides insight on some things we should know about those places.

P.S. If you’d like a weekly devotional or reflection delivered to your email each week, then I would encourage you to sign up for the Daily She Pursues Newsletter.

I hope you enjoyed this article all about daily devotions! It was great getting to share these with you. What are some of your favorite Christian devotionals?

Powerful Lessons from Three Unnamed Women in the Bible

October 2, 2023 | by Shanté Grossett O'Neal Bible Study

We can learn a lot from the people named in Scripture. We learn a lot about the results of not trusting God from Adam and Eve. Similarly, we learn about the faithfulness of God to his covenant through Abraham who became the father of many nations as God promised. David teaches us about what it means to be a human being “after God’s heart.”

Mary was a disciple of Christ who demonstrated exemplary devotion to God when she willingly chose to carry the Son of God in her womb. Peter was a follower of Jesus who failed many times but ended up going on to become a pillar in the Church. Last but not least, we know about Paul, the former Pharisee who surrendered to Christ and became a great apostle and minister of the gospel.

We see both the faithfulness and the shortcomings of people in the Bible.

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It is often easier to remember the named people in the Bible and forget about the unnamed ones. However, their lives and situations tell us a lot about the God who deeply loved them.

I want to focus on three unnamed women in the Bible (specifically in the New Testament) whose stories can teach us a lot about Jesus and the Christian walk. We’ll look at the Syrophoenician Woman, the Woman with Two Copper Coins, and the Widow at Nain.

I hope that the stories of these unnamed women in the Bible can encourage you in your walk with Christ.

The Syrophoenician Woman

In fact, as soon as she heard about him, a woman whose little daughter was possessed by an impure spirit came and fell at his feet.
Mark 7:24 NIV

After leaving Jerusalem, Jesus went towards Tyre. He want anyone to know he was there. However, a Greek woman from Syrian Phoenicia heard about him and came and “fell at his feet.” She recognized that there was something about Jesus that made him worthy of honor and devotion. Her daughter was possessed by an evil spirit and she believed that Jesus could set her free.

Jesus responds by saying, “it is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs (Mark 7:26).”

This gets a little complicated because even today, it’s an insult to be called a “dog.” However, this was the way that Jewish people at the time usually spoke of non-Jewish people. Jesus was speaking the common language of the day. The Greek woman would have known that but instead of taking offense, replies, “even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs (Mark 7:28).”

Jesus responded and told her that because of her response, she could go home with confidence that her daughter had been healed. Indeed, she found the evil spirit gone when she went home.

The account of this woman is incredibly short but it teaches us so much about faith. First, the fact that she was willing to approach Jesus, a Jewish man, and plead for her daughter’s deliverance, demonstrates faith. She knew that Jewish people did not socialize with Gentiles and men certainly didn’t socialize with women. However, she believed that Jesus was different and that he both had the power and the compassion to set her daughter free.

Next, when Jesus initially objects to her request, she humbly responds with the reasons why she believed Jesus should help her daughter. It’s almost as if she knew that Jesus’ mission, though to the Jews first, would eventually extend to the Gentiles. Perhaps she knew that although the Jews were God’s chosen people, he loved the Gentiles too.

Her faithful humility led to the freedom of her daughter.

From this unnamed woman in the Bible, we learn that God honors faithfulness and is compassionate towards those who come to him with their needs. Life isn’t perfect and we won’t always get what we ask for, but it is so important to trust that God loves you and is able to meet your needs.

The Woman with Two Copper Coins

Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents.
Mark 12:41-42 NIV

In this story, Jesus is at the temple and sits down opposite of the treasury. As he watched the crowd putting their money into the treasury, he saw many rich people putting in large amounts. But then he noticed a poor widow. She came to the treasury and put in two small copper coins. They were worth very little.

Marveling at the widow’s actions, Jesus calls his disciples over and teaches them a lesson. He explained that her coins, though small in monetary value, were worth far more than what the others put in. This is because they gave out of their abundance and she, out of her poverty, gave everything she had.

We learn the value of sacrifice and devotion to God from this unnamed woman. She didn’t have much but she gave her all because she knew that God was worth it.

Her story can remind us that God isn’t looking for us to do extravagant things for him. He’s actually just looking for us to genuinely give our best to him in worship. For some, this frees us. Yet for others, the standard is now higher because we haven’t been truly giving our all to God.

Regardless, we have the privilege to emulate the unnamed widow and truly give all to God, holding back nothing.

The Widow at Nain

Then he went up and touched the bier they were carrying him on, and the bearers stood still. He said, “Young man, I say to you, get up!” The dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him back to his mother.
Luke 7:14-15 NIV

I admit that the widow at Nain is a woman in the Bible that I did not know about.

Jesus went to a town called Nain with his disciples and the crowds that followed to hear him teach. As he approaches the gate of the town, he notices that a man who recently died was being carried out. This must have been a sad sight to see. Luke tells us that this man was his mother’s only son. She was already a widow and now her son was dead.

During this time, a woman had provision and security if she had a husband or a son. As a widow with no living children, she would have suffered greatly.

When Jesus saw her, he was moved with compassion. He raised the man from the dead and gave him back to his mother.

This story reminds us that even when someone doesn’t physically ask, Jesus still cares and shows kindness to those in need. He saw her tears and knew that she was deeply saddened by her loss. He also knew that without her son, things would have been very difficult for her and he wanted to ease her pain.

If you are struggling, may this unnamed woman in the Bible remind you that Jesus cares and longs to show you kindness.

The Value of Telling the Stories of Women in the Bible

I hope that these stories were able to encourage you and teach you something about God. It is so important to avoid neglecting the stories of women in the Bible. We can learn so much from them. These stories can be especially meaningful to Christian women and can help us grow closer to Jesus.

If this article was encouraging, I highly recommend my book, The 12 Week Jesus Bible Study: Readings and Reflections for Women to Grow Closer to Christ as a next step. It covers topics such as faith, devotion, anxiety and doubt through the lens of Jesus’ interactions with women in the Bible. Learn more here.

What Does it Mean to Use God’s Name in Vain?

August 31, 2023 | by Shanté Grossett O'Neal Spiritual Growth

One of the Ten Commandments prohibits using God’s name in vain. Since God is holy, his name also deserves reverence. Naturally, many Christians are concerned with misusing God’s name. They are careful to avoid saying the name of God in place of an expletive or in moments of exclamation or shock. They are right to do this. However, using God’s name in vain is not just about speaking his name as a curse word. It’s much deeper than this.

In this article, I would like to introduce the importance of God’s name in the Bible, suggest reasons why Exodus 20:7 is about more than just our language, and explain what the Bible actually means when it says not to take the name of the Lord in vain. If you’re reading this and you feel that this article doesn’t apply to you because you never use God’s name in vain as a curse word, I would encourage you to keep reading anyway.

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What is God’s name?

In Exodus 3, Moses encounters God who then commissions him to return to Egypt and tell Pharaoh to let the Israelites go free. After receiving this commission, Moses asks God an important question:

Moses said to God, “Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ Then what shall I tell them?” (Exodus 3:13 NIV)

God responds and tells Moses, “I AM WHO I AM… say to the Israelites: ‘I AM has sent me to you” (Exodus 3:14).

“I AM” comes from the Hebrew verb hayah which means “to be.” This is where we get the name Yahweh that is frequently used in the Bible for God. Yahweh refers to God’s self-existence, or in other words, the fact that God has no beginning or end. An article from the NIV Study Bible explains that the name Yahweh is a “perpetual testimony to [God’s] faithfulness to his promises.” Yahweh is God’s covenantal name and it reminds his people that he is with them.

Similarly, for us today, the name Yahweh is a reminder that God loves us, cares for us, and will never leave us.

A Person’s Name Defines Their Character

I also want to point out that in Ancient Israelite society, one did not give their child a name just because it was pretty or trendy. One’s name was directly connected with their character. This is why we see so many name changes in the Old Testament. The name Jacob means “supplanter,” and describes someone who seized or usurped things from others. When Jacob encountered God, God changed his name to Israel, or, “one who wrestles with God.”

Similarly, God’s name represents God’s character.

We spoke of the name Yahweh as God’s covenantal name, but God is also given many other names:

God is el Roi, “the God who sees.” (Genesis 16:14-15)

God is adonai, “Lord” or “Master.”

God is the Ancient of Days, referring to God’s eternal existence. (Daniel 7)

God is el elyon, “God Most High” (Psalm 57:2)

God’s people have also referred to him as:

Yahweh Shalom, the Lord is Peace (Judges 6:24).

Yahweh Nissi, the Lord is my banner (Exodus 17:15).

Yahweh Tsidkenu, the Lord is our righteousness (Jeremiah 23:6).

Yahweh Ra’ah the Lord is our shepherd (Psalm 23:1).

You probably also know God as Comforter, Friend, Savior, Redeemer, etc.

These names describe God’s character and actions towards his people.

Related: What Does it Mean to Fear God?

Where does God’s name dwell?

This concept may feel foreign because we are not living in the same time period or place as the Biblical writers. However, God’s name did dwell in a specific place, and learning about this can give us more insight into what it means to use God’s name in vain.

In the Pentateuch, particularly in Deuteronomy, we find passages about God’s name dwelling in a place:

But you shall seek the Lord at the place which the Lord your God will choose from all your tribes, to establish His name there for His dwelling, and there you shall come. (Deuteronomy 12:5)

but at the place where the Lord your God chooses to establish His name, you shall sacrifice the Passover in the evening at sunset, at the time that you came out of Egypt. (Deuteronomy 16:6)

that you shall take some of the first of all the produce of the ground which you bring in from your land that the Lord your God gives you, and you shall put it in a basket and go to the place where the Lord your God chooses to establish His name. (Deuteronomy 26:2)

God’s name dwelt among the people of Israel in the land of Israel.

Israel as bearers of God’s name

In an interview with Michael Heiser, Tim Mackie of The Bible Project explained that the Hebrew of Exodus 20:7 actually speaks of carrying the Lord’s name in vain as opposed to taking or using the Lord’s name in vain.

Israel was supposed to be bearers of God’s name. In other words, they represented God.

As representatives of God, they were not permitted to misrepresent God in their lifestyle and actions.

When the surrounding nations looked at Israel, they were supposed to see a group of people who acted like they knew and lived in a relationship with the one true God.

Christians also bear God’s name

As Christians, we now also bear God’s name. We represent Christ in the world. Our friends and neighbors should look to us to learn about what it means to live in a relationship with the one true God.

This is perhaps why, regarding those who speak out against one thing and then do the same thing themselves, Paul boldly states in Romans 2:24:

As it is written: “God’s name is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.”

Christians are called to show the world who God is through our lives.

If we claim to represent Christ and do the things he hates, we are inviting others to blaspheme, and disrespect God’s name.

What does it mean to take God’s name in vain?

Taking God’s name in vain is not only about speaking God’s name in an inappropriate way. It also involves representing God in an inappropriate way.

What taking God’s name in vain can look like:

Claiming to love Christ but failing to demonstrate the love of Christ in our actions
Believing that adultery is a sin, but still practicing it anyway
Knowing that Christ is Lord but choosing to support false religions
Practicing any kind of sinful lifestyle even while claiming to be a believer

If our lives do not match the character of the God we represent, then we are taking God’s name in vain.

Similarly, if people see us and do not see Christ in us, then we are taking Christ’s name in vain.

Where do we go from here?

The truth of the matter is that none of us are perfect and we will inevitably do things that misrepresent God.

First, it is important to remember the fact that Christ has set us free from the punishment and stronghold of sin. When we are weak, Christ is strong.

Next, evaluate your life. Ask God to help open your eyes to the ways in which you may be carrying his name in vain. When you find yourself doing this, simply ask for his forgiveness and his power to do the right thing the next time.

Also, while we do make mistakes and have off-days, ask yourself this. Does my life as a whole represent the God I claim to worship?

If you find that your life does not truly represent God, don’t be afraid to repent. God is gracious and kind.

I hope that this article was able to help you see that using God’s name in vain is not just about words. It’s also about how we represent God in the world. May we seek to glorify God with our lives as much as we seek to glorify him with our words.

What Is the Cost of Following Jesus?

July 31, 2023 | by Shanté Grossett O'Neal Christian Living

Prosperity preachers teach that coming to Jesus will bring financial blessings, a life filled with ease and freedom from worry and hardship. Sunday after Sunday, their churches are packed with unsuspecting people who think that following Jesus will make their lives easier. Ultimately, they walk away disappointed because the Christianity they were promised is not the Christianity that they experience. But Jesus didn’t teach that Christianity would make our lives free from struggle. In fact, he said the opposite.

While there are many blessings that come with being a Christian, there are also important costs that come with following Christ. I don’t write this article to scare you away from the faith, but instead my hope is to remind you that Christianity is meant to make us more like Jesus, and in order to do so, Christianity can be costly. However, the benefits outweigh the costs and a life with Christ is the best gift we can ever receive.

If you are interested in Christianity, or you are already a believer struggling with with some of the “costs” of following Jesus, this article is for you.

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The Rich Young Ruler

One day, a man went up to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what can I do to gain eternal life?” From his question, it seems that he really wanted to follow Christ. Jesus responds and tells him to follow the commandments. I imagine that the man was filled with joy because he responded, “I already do these things.” Then Jesus looked at him lovingly and said, “But there’s one thing you lack. Sell your treasures and then follow me.” The man walked away from Jesus with sorrow – he didn’t want to give up his stuff.

Counting the Cost

Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it? For if you lay the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule you, saying, ‘This person began to build and wasn’t able to finish.’ Luke 14:28-29

Like so many people today, the young ruler failed to understand that following Christ comes with a cost. He didn’t consider that Jesus would ask him to give up his greatest possessions.

If you want to start a project or work on an idea, wouldn’t you first consider how much of your time and resources it would take before beginning? Likewise, if we want to become disciples of Christ, we should be aware how much it will cost to follow him.

The Cost of Following Jesus

Let’s look at Luke 14 and Matthew 16. There are some important things Jesus tells his disciples about the cost of following him.

Cost #1 Carrying Our Cross

“And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.” Luke 14:27

In order to be a disciple of Christ, one needs to carry his or her own cross. The cross represents the suffering that Jesus endured. As Christians, carrying our cross means being willing to endure our own hardship for the sake of Jesus. If we aren’t willing to carry our cross, then there’s no point in being a disciple of Jesus (Luke 14:27).

Cost #2: Loving Jesus More Than Anything Else

Jesus also says something in Luke 14 that’s a little difficult to hear:

“If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple.” Luke 14:26

He doesn’t mean to “hate” our loved ones in the way that we think of it today. In this context, “hate” is a semitic idiom that simply means to love less. What Jesus is saying is that in order to be a disciple, we should love him more than anything and anyone else.

Related: How to Endure In Suffering

Cost #3: Self-Denial

Finally, in Matthew 16:24, Jesus explains that following him also includes self-denial.This means that we need to be willing to lay down some things we deeply love and enjoy for the sake of following Christ. Just as Jesus followed the Father’s will and went to the cross, we should also follow God’s will and do what God desires of us. Sometimes this will come easily, and other times it may be more difficult. But following Jesus means persevering and doing God’s will whether it’s easy or difficult.

Christianity Doesn’t Promise An Easy Life

If you came to Christ expecting that Christianity would bring an easy life, then you are mistaken. Christianity doesn’t promise that everything will be perfect. It doesn’t promise that everyone will love us, or that things will always work out just as we hoped. Jesus’ disciples all had to endure hardship for the sake of the cross. We will too.

What Christianity Does Promise

But, I don’t want you to think that Christianity is all hardship and pain. It isn’t. It’s filled with so much joy and beauty. And, any hardship we endure is ultimately meant to lead us towards a beautiful future in the presence of God.

When we become Christians, we are freed from the power of sin. It can no longer weigh on us like a burden. Similarly, Christianity gives us access into the presence of God and unhindered fellowship with our Creator. As Christians, we also gain a relationship with Christ and a community of fellow believers. Last but certainly not least, Christianity grants us eternal life with God.

Christianity does not promise a perfect life free from struggles. Following Jesus will always come at a cost. When we surrender our lives to Christ, we are essentially signing up to go through some hardship and suffering. However, we’re also signing up for a wonderful relationship with God, fellowship with Christ and other believers, and eternity in heaven.

The Road To Emmaus: The Need for Faith In Suffering

April 8, 2023 | by Shanté Grossett O'Neal Spiritual Growth

Have you ever heard something that sounded so crazy that you figured it couldn’t possibly be true?

The disciples on the road to Emmaus probably felt this way about Jesus’ teachings surrounding his death and resurrection.

We find them leaving Jerusalem on the road to Emmaus. They were discouraged because Jesus, the one they thought would have redeemed Israel, had died. The irony is that Jesus meets them on their journey and begins a conversation with them but they do not recognize him.

They begin to share their explanation of the things that happened in Jerusalem. After they finish, Jesus chides them, and remarks that they are foolish and slow to believe. He didn’t think that they should have been as discouraged as they were.

Keep reading and I’ll explain the significance of the road to Emmaus and why Jesus responded as he did; then I’ll share two key takeaways from the passage that can encourage Christians walking through hard times.

graphic with photo of woman sitting in field looking out and holding her hat. Text reads "What the Road to Emmaus teaches us about faith in suffering"

The Story of the Road to Emmaus

The Journey to Emmaus (vv. 13-14)

As I shared previously, verses 13 and 14 mention that two disciples were going to Emmaus, a village seven miles from Jerusalem.

This is significant because as disciples of Christ, and likely Jewish men, they would have observed Passover. Passover is observed for seven days. Yet, they were leaving Jerusalem four days early. Pablo T. Gadenz thinks that the disciples saw no reason to stay in Jerusalem because of what happened to Jesus, and were on their way home. [1]

They were sad as they left Jerusalem. They thought Jesus would be the one to redeem Israel. As far as they knew, he didn’t. “How could death bring redemption?” they probably wondered to themselves.

Encountering Jesus on the Road to Emmaus (v. 15-24)

As they walked and talked, Jesus came up to them and began to walk with them. The key to remember is that they didn’t recognize Jesus. He casually asks them what they were talking about, and with sadness in his face, Cleopas responds, “Are you the only one who doesn’t know?” Although he did indeed know, Jesus asks, “What?” and prompts them to share what they believed about his death.

They explained that Jesus of Nazareth was a powerful prophet. But he was arrested and sentenced to death by the chief priests and the Jewish rulers. They told him that they hoped Jesus was going to redeem Israel.

Their sadness and despair is so obvious in this short section.

We hoped…

Their words reveal what was in their hearts. They once had faith that Jesus could redeem Israel, but when things got really bad, they no longer believed. Their faith was based on what they could see not based on the truth Jesus spoke to them.

Foolish and Slow of Heart (v. 25-27)

Jesus responded and said to them,

“How foolish are you, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?”
Luke 24:25 (NIV)
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While the word “foolish” would cause one to think that Jesus is speaking about their intellectual ability, the second part of the sentence makes it clear that he isn’t. [2]

The NIV, like many other English translations, uses the phrase “slow to believe” in this verse. However, this isn’t exactly what the phrase says in Greek.

In Greek, it reads literally reads “slow of heart to believe.”

It’s not that they didn’t believe because they intellectually couldn’t, they didn’t believe because of something going on with their hearts.

Even if it was difficult for them to understand from the Old Testament that Jesus was meant to suffer, they should have understood it from Jesus’ own words before his death. He told his disciples what would happen.

In their minds, the message was too crazy to be true. Their hearts were closed off from believing that Jesus would redeem Israel by first suffering.

However, Jesus was kind to them and explained everything that the scriptures said about himself.

Breaking Bread with Jesus (vv. 28-35)

They were so intrigued by Jesus’ words that they invited him to stay with them. Remember, at this point they still didn’t know who he was.

He sat with them, took bread, gave thanks, broke the bread, and gave it to them. Then at this point, their eyes were opened and they recognized him. They reflected on the conversation they had on the road and realized that their hearts were stirred as Jesus spoke. Then, as quickly as they could, they left Emmaus and returned to Jerusalem to tell the others.

Two Key Takeaways for Christians from the Road to Emmaus

#1 We Need Faith that is Firm in Suffering

Remember how I previously mentioned the disciples’ sadness and despair? Their emotions were valid. But the level of discouragement they felt didn’t match the truth they had been told about the Messiah. They would have stayed in Jerusalem if they had believed Jesus’ words.

You and I are not so different from the Emmaus Disciples. We might have also missed the point of Jesus’ message. If we were in Jerusalem during those days, we probably would have begun our own journeys home.

Like these two disciples, we can often be “slow of heart.” We don’t always believe Jesus’ words and when trouble comes, we fall into despair.

The Messiah had to suffer and then enter his glory. Likewise, the Christian has to suffer and then enter into glory with Christ.

If you are experiencing unexpected hard times, don’t turn away from Christ. Remember his words and allow them to bring you hope.

Instead of a faith that says “we had hoped” when hardship strikes, may we have faith that still remains firm in suffering.

#2 God is Gracious Even When We Struggle to Believe

But thankfully, God was gracious to these disciples who struggled to believe.

Notice two things: in the beginning of this section (v. 16), Luke tells us that “they were kept from recognizing him.” And at the end (v. 31), Luke explains that “their eyes were opened and they recognized him.”

These verses are worded like this for a reason. It’s meant to highlight the fact that God, through his divine agency, kept them from recognizing Jesus at the beginning of the journey, and allowed them to recognize him at the end.

Technically, they should have believed in the Resurrection because of the faith they had in Jesus and the words he spoke before he died.

However, God was gracious enough to open their eyes so that they could see for themselves that Christ had resurrected.

Similarly, God is gracious to us. He doesn’t walk away when we struggle to believe. He opens our eyes by sitting with us, feeding us, and compassionately telling us the truth.

[1] Gadenz, Pablo T. The Gospel of Luke (Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture). Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2018.

[2] See Chen, Diane G.. Luke : A New Covenant Commentary. Eugene: Wipf and Stock Publishers, 2017.