“If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me.” — Luke 9:23 Most men assume a disciple is someone who believes the right things. Jesus defined it differently. A disciple is a man who follows—daily, deliberately, and at personal cost. Discipleship isn’t agreement; it’s alignment. Belief is like studying a trail map from the comfort of a lodge...
“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. — James 1:22 You can read all the books on hiking: good planning habits, what protein snacks and food to pack, the pace to set, the proper maps to bring, the exit routes, and how to check on the weather conditions. But if you never set one foot on the trail, you’ll miss the whole experience. A man can...
“For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. — Romans 8:13 Reaching the trail’s end means putting one foot in front of the other. Jesus invites us into a daily walk. Spiritual growth doesn’t come from intensity—it comes from consistency. Paul is not asking us to put in occasional effort: he talks...
“Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost…? — Luke 14:28 Jesus never hid the cost of following Him. He made it clear: discipleship will cost personal comfort, control, and convenience. What it gives back is life. Most men approach faith like a casual hike—no commitment at first. They say to themselves, “We’ll see how things...
“Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me…” — Matthew 11:28-30 I can remember so many family hikes when I called out to our boys to stay within view, only for them to dismiss the instructions and vanish ahead of us on the trail. A trait that seems to be sewn into a grown male’s DNA. Following Jesus doesn’t mean rushing ahead—it means walking at His pace. His yoke isn’t heavy because He...