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Intention

To say “Yes” to Jesus because He is so much better than anything this world offers.

Scripture

“And He said to all, ‘If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.’”

– Luke 9:23

Reflection

Someone once told me, “Your no’s add value to your yes”.

Recently, as we have been launching Episode 3 of Made in Jesus, I have been reminded of this advice. Ethan shares how being a Christian is as simple as saying ‘yes’ to Jesus and ‘no’ to anything else. This sounds radical – but it’s ultimately the foundation of our faith.

We often quote Jesus when He said, “Take up your cross daily and follow me” (Luke 9:23). But sometimes we forget the “deny yourself” part. We pray prayers like, “Your Kingdom come and Your will be done” (Matt 6:10) – but the reality is that “not my will but Yours be done” (Luke 22:42) is easier said than done. Why? Because there is a cost – and it’s everything.

Jesus was sweating blood in the garden of Gethsemane as He prayed that prayer, so we should not pray it lightly. We must count the cost.

This is where the rubber meets the road and following Jesus starts to look like something. While Ethan is open-air preaching in front of a large crowd of schoolies he declares, “I don’t do drugs, I’ve never had sex, I don’t drink…” The immediate response to this out on the street was amazing as young people responded to this act of boldness with high fives and prayer requests. He continues to share how he doesn’t do any of those things and it’s incredible.

Sometimes FOMO (the fear of missing out), peer pressure, and desire to fit in leads young people to do things they probably wouldn’t have done otherwise.

The truth is that Jesus and His ways are so much better than anything the world has to offer. Saying “Yes to Jesus and no to anything else” will cost us everything but we are getting the best deal ever – because He is so much better.

It is this uncompromising “Yes” to Jesus that sets us apart. Following Him has to look like something. Our lives should look different.

As we have been showing this episode in schools and youth groups around Australia, we have seen hundreds of youths counting the cost and saying “Yes” to Jesus. Many have even decided to be baptised fully clothed on the spot!

On Friday night a young guy said to me right before he was baptised, “Tonight is the first time I have believed God is real”. Many Aussie youths are saying the same or similar because they see through these episodes what it truly means to follow Jesus. It is not just empty words or playing church. But it is lives, laid down for the sake of the gospel.

We are made in Jesus and for Jesus. It is in Him that we find our destiny and purpose to know Him and make Him known. I see the youth of Australia discovering that His ways are so much better than the world’s. I see them realising that following Jesus is the adventure of a lifetime.

This truly is the most exciting time to be alive. I believe we will see the fulfilment of the Great Commission in this generation.

Video

Prayer

God, I thank You for what You are doing in Australia. I thank You that we get to be a part of Your plan.

I pray that You would help each one of us to consider the cost to deny ourselves and take up our cross to follow You, to pray “not my will but Yours be done” and truly mean it.

May our “Yes” to you be more than just a three-letter word. Let it look like something that others would see and want. Help us to live lives that bring You glory and shine Your light everywhere we go. Set us apart and set us ablaze.

The harvest is ripe, Lord. Send us out and raise up more workers for the harvest, until everyone has heard the gospel. In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Author Bio

Pat is an evangelist with Youth for Christ Australia, director of Hope Movement, and co-producer of Made in Jesus. He is passionate about prayer and worship and loves telling people about the hope that he has found in Jesus. His mission is to equip believers with simple and practical tools to share hope.

Prayer Points and Purpose for GO Month 2024

1. To worship Jesus and give extravagant praise to God. 1 Chron 16:23–31.
2. To pray for revival, repentance and deliverance for Australia and for millions to find Christ. Acts 2:1–41.
3. To pray for five people by name to find Christ and share the gospel with those five in May. Matt 28:18–20.

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