Steve Timmis of The Crowded House and co-author of the book Total Church posed the following questions and thoughts for reflection:

How can I be sure I would lay down my life for sake of Jesus & the gospel? Perhaps I’ll be like Peter in his bravado and subsequent denial? Can’t ultimately be sure until I’m called on to do so.

But there are indicators in what I am reluctant to give up…

• If I’m not prepared to give up my bed to go and serve someone, I can be fairly confident I won’t give up my life…
• If I refuse to give up a holiday abroad so I can support someone in gospel ministry, I can be fairly confident I won’t give up my life…
• If I’m not willing to pursue people who are different from me in order to bless them, I can be fairly certain I won’t give up my life…
• If I’m not prepared to miss out on promotion so I can stay & help plant churches, I can be fairly certain I won’t give up my life…
• If I’m not prepared to jeopardize a friendship so that I can tell others about Christ, I can be fairly certain I won’t give up my life.

I think these are worth some personal consideration.  Jesus told those who wanted to hang with him:

“If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” (Luke 9.23)

Being a follower of Jesus and being a fan of Jesus are very different things.