60. On hearing it, many of his disciples said, "This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?" 61. Aware that his disciples were grumbling about this, Jesus said to them, "Does this offend you? 62. What if you see the Son of Man ascend to where he was before! 63. The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life.

The message of the abundant life has too often fooled people into thinking Christianity is all about getting blessings - a life filled with ease. The first disciples did not experience that on this earth and yet Jesus words are spirit and life. Last week we talked about what Jesus meant when He said that He was the true bread that came from heaven. He is their life. The disciples commit by faith to following Jesus not just as savior, but as Lord.     

When we eat something, it becomes not only part of us, but it also becomes us. When we partake of Christ, we become like Him. No, we do not become divine. When we deny ourselves and take up the cross and follow Him, we become a new creation.  

G.K. Chesterton said, “Christianity has not been tried and found untrue. Instead, it has been tried and found difficult and that is enough to weed out the great bulk of those who have merely gone along for the ride.”  

The ways of Christ can be hard. They are hard on selfishness, on prejudice, on pettiness. They are hard on sloth, indifference and lack of discipline. They are hard on the tendency to drift and procrastination. The disciple that falls away is attracted more by the physical blessings, the miracles, the food, the excitement, the entertainment and the crowds. We see that a lot today with the marketing of Christianity then, when the going gets tough, faith is cast aside. People turn away. Hard and uncomfortable choices are not what they signed up for.    

It is easy to go on the broad road. It is hard to follow the narrow road. It is easy to go with the crowd; it is hard to be rejected by friends. It is easy to be undisciplined and let our wants and desires guide our path. Instead, it is the way of discipline and self-control that determines the ways of God, despite circumstances. There is a broad way and there is a narrow way. Some go the easy way; others follow no matter what.   

Application: What is a hard decision or path that is facing you today? What would Jesus have you do?

Prayer:   Lord, You have said, "Take My yoke upon you.."   That is what I want to do today to walk with you and feel Your grip on my life.   

Dale