Everyone Wants Salvation, Nobody Wants the Cross: A Sermon on the Cost of Discipleship (Sermon-Style)
"Then Jesus said to His disciples, 'If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me.'"
Matthew 16:24
Christians today want to hug salvation — but not carry the cross. We want resurrection power without crucifixion pain. We embrace the promises, but avoid the process.
The Israelites' journey paints a vivid image of God's miraculous provision and protection. God carried them:
Out of Egypt with silver and gold (Exodus 12:35-36)
Through the wilderness with manna and quail (Exodus 16:12-15)
With fire by night and cloud by day (Exodus 13:21-22)
Into battles where He fought for them (Joshua 10:10-11)
Indeed, it appeared as if God bore their burdens. Despite their rebellion, God upheld His covenant for the sake of His promise to Abraham (Deuteronomy 7:7-9).
But when Christ came, the model shifted.
He was perfect — yet He suffered. He obeyed fully — yet He was betrayed, beaten, and crucified. He carried His cross, and called us to do the same (Luke 9:23).
Unlike the Israelite narrative that emphasized prosperity for obedience, the path of Christ highlighted something deeper: suffering as purification, and sacrifice as worship.
Look at Paul:
Imprisoned multiple times (2 Corinthians 11:23-28)
Shipwrecked, beaten, stoned, hungry, cold Yet he said, "I glory in my weaknesses, for Christ's power rests on me." — 2 Corinthians 12:9
Does this mean God no longer blesses? No. But it does mean we must stop equating blessings only with comfort.
Even the Old Testament, which some think is all sunshine, has its shadows:
Moses never entered the Promised Land (Deuteronomy 34:4)
David lost children, faced betrayal, and wept in caves (Psalm 55:6-8)
Elijah begged to die (1 Kings 19:4)
God has always refined His people through both fire and favor.
James wrote: "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance." — James 1:2-3
Yes, James also said, "Let no one say when he is tempted, 'I am being tempted by God'" — James 1:13. But temptation (to sin) is different from testing (to strengthen).
God tested Abraham (Genesis 22:1). God tested Israel (Deuteronomy 8:2). Even Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tested (Matthew 4:1).
Testing reveals what temptation intends to destroy.
Here’s the danger: when Christians expect only favor, they crumble under fire. They tithe, serve, fast, give sacrificially—then suffer—and feel abandoned.
But Jesus never promised comfort. He promised a cross. He promised rejection, tribulation, hatred.
"In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." — John 16:33
This is not a business transaction. We do not serve God for what we can get. We serve because He is worthy. We follow Christ not for the crown alone — but for the cross.
Be warned: there are preachers today who have mixed personal ambition with doctrine — who teach that every act of giving must return financial breakthrough, every pain is a demonic test, and every delay is due to a lack of faith.
But Scripture disagrees:
Job was blameless — and still suffered.
Jesus was sinless — and was crucified.
Paul was faithful — and still faced misfortune.
Don’t measure God’s love by your circumstances. Don’t evaluate your faithfulness by how "easy" your life is.
Learn to embrace the darkness. The sun too gets covered by clouds. That doesn’t mean it ceased to shine. "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me." — Psalm 23:4
And when the light returns, you will shine brighter — not because you were spared from storms, but because you were strengthened through them.
So serve God — not for the promise of ease, but for the beauty of truth. Let your servitude be birthed from love, not entitlement. Let your sacrifices be done with joy, not manipulation.
Study your scriptures. Seek wisdom. Test every spirit. Be a student of truth.
And when you fall, rise again. Carry your cross. Not with resentment — but with reverence.
The reward isn’t always in this life. But the faithfulness is always worth it.
"For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all." — 2 Corinthians 4:17
So remember: God may not always take the fire away — but He will always walk with you through it.
Walk the narrow road. It may be hard. It may hurt. But it is holy.
