Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me.” Matthew 16:24
Staying in control is something most of us fight hard for. But Jesus was clear: following Him means giving it up.
The story is told about an assistant at a research library of a prestigious university in England—who spoke little English. He was a refugee who had fled his country under persecution. The man now carried a deep sense of gratitude into everything he did. Each time a graduate student entered the library and sat down to work, the assistant quietly appeared. Bowing deeply, the man would say, “Sir, you may dispose of me as you wish.”[1]
His statement presents a real picture of what it means to follow Jesus. Jesus’s own words were blunt. He said, “If any of you wants to be my follower you must give up your own way take up your cross and follow me” (Matthew 16:24). Or, to paraphrase: Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You’re not in the driver’s seat; I am” (Matthew 16:24 The Message). When you say yes to Jesus, you are, like the humble library assistant, effectively saying, “Jesus, dispose of me as you wish.”
Does the cost seem high to you? Jesus said, “If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul?” (Matthew 16:25-26).
Nothing this life has to offer is worth eternity. If you’ve been clinging to control, consider the words of the humble library assistant: “[Jesus], … dispose of me as you wish.” It will be the most freeing sentence you’ve ever spoken.
[1] Brian Anderson, “Ephesians: New People–New Lives,” YouTube video, accessed April 30, 2026, https://www.youtube.com/live/cC7I95uevtw?si=LUUUIHPK7hZRLBvZ.
