Are we following the Jesus we want, or surrendering to the Lord we need?

“Jesus will be the Lord of your life to the extent that your preferences are not.” -Richard Whitter

(Luke 9:23) Then he said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow me.

Palm Sunday Was a Picture of Misplaced Expectations

(Matthew 21:8–11) Most of the crowd spread their garments on the road ahead of him, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 Jesus was in the center of the procession, and the people all around him were shouting, “Praise God for the Son of David! Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Praise God in highest heaven!” 10 The entire city of Jerusalem was in an uproar as he entered. “Who is this?” they asked. 11 And the crowds replied, “It’s Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.”

(Luke 19:41–44) But as he came closer to Jerusalem and saw the city ahead, he began to weep. 42 “How I wish today that you of all people would understand the way to peace. But now it is too late, and peace is hidden from your eyes. 43 Before long your enemies will build ramparts against your walls and encircle you and close in on you from every side. 44 They will crush you into the ground, and your children with you. Your enemies will not leave a single stone in place, because you did not recognize it when God visited you.”

“Everyone wants a savior, but it takes maturity to surrender to the Lord.”

Preferences Can Applaud Jesus Without Surrendering to Him

Romans 12:1–2(NIV) Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Preferences reveal priorities

“Jesus will be the Lord of your life to the extent that your preferences are not.”

Lordship Means Surrendering the Right to Define the Outcome

(Philippians 2:9–11) Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Is Jesus the Lord of your preferences?

(Luke 9:23) Then he said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow me.

”Jesus will be the Lord of your life to the extent that your preferences are not.”

(John 12:25) Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life.

• Unless otherwise noted, all scripture is from the New Living Translation.