By Jeff Roth

I had the skills to pay the bills.  I was playing college baseball.  I was on my way to the big leagues.  That was my plan-but my coach had a different one.  I thought I should be starting at shortstop and batting clean up.  He thought I should be warming up our left fielder between innings.  We agreed to disagree, and I tried to become the best warmer-upper of a left fielder that they had ever seen.

Whenever you join a team you agree to come under the leadership of that team.  When I joined the baseball team, I understood that I was going to do whatever the coach thought would be best for the team.  It wasn’t always what I wanted.  Let’s be honest, it was hardly ever what I wanted, but I was following the leader.

In Mark chapter 8, Jesus calls not only His disciples, but also the crowd to Him.  He tells them all exactly what they must do if they want to be part of His team.

“If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” (Mark 8:34 ESV)

That’s what Jesus says.  When it comes to being a follower of Jesus it starts with a straight up denial of self.  Being a follower of Jesus I deny myself by saying that my life is no longer about me.  It’s surrendering everything to Jesus.  It’s surrendering my dreams to Jesus.  It’s surrendering my bank account to Jesus.  It’s surrendering my desire for applause, my talents, my time, my family, my heart.  It’s all surrendered to Jesus Christ to be used how He thinks will best help His cause.  It’s not always what I want, but it is what’s best.  That surrender and self denial is a daily battle for me.  It’s a daily battle for most of us, but it’s a battle we must fight.

Henry Varley once said to D.L. Moody, “It remains to be seen what God will do with a man who gives himself up wholly to Him.”  Moody became determined to be that man, and by God’s grace millions of lives were changed through his ministry.  I need to be determined to be that man.  You should be determined to be that person.  We should raise up our children and students to be determined to be that person.

At National Youth Conference this year we are going to war against this false truth that life is “all about me.”  We are going to raise up students who are willing to look to Jesus and raise their white flag of selfishness.  We are going to teach these students that when it comes to Christ, the best thing we can do is tap out and turn our life fully and wholly over to Him.  We are going to encourage these students to shake this earth at it’s core by giving themselves fully and wholly to the cause of Christ.

What would happen if 900 students totally surrendered their lives to Christ?  Please join me in praying that we find out this summer at NYC.

If you would like to bring a group of students to experience National Youth Conference 2014, visit www.generalbaptist.com for more information or to register.