To answer these questions, we must start with the basic’s. Before you can really go X-Treme, you must first look at where you are with the Lord. To be X-Treme, you must have a good relationship with Christ. To building up your relationship with Him, read your Bible and pray ever day (yes, just has the kid’s song says). That will help you communicate with God and understand who He is and what He wants you to do. I encourage you to find a time and place when you can spend some time alone with God. Around my house it can be difficult at times to find a quiet time so I have to work around everyone’s schedule because we have a full house…but it is wise to try to spend ur time alone close to the same time every day.

You’ve been praying and reading daily, now what? Lets take a look at what Matthew 16:24 says to find out. “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” According to this verse, along with Matthew 10:38, Luke 14:27, and others, we must pick up our cross daily and follow after Christ. This means that we must sacrifice our own sinful desires and follow in Christ’s example. Easier said than done, which is why starting with building up the relationship is best because then you’ll know you can trust and rely on Jesus to help you through all your struggles.

As you learn to carry your cross and continue in growing closer to Christ, the world will see it and hate you for it. In John 15:18, 19 Jesus tells his disciples, “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world.” In a way I find this verse somewhat disturbing because I don’t want to be hated and to think that once I asked Christ into my heart I pretty much signed a paper saying I know I’ll be hated and there’s no way out…not a happy bedtime thought. But at the same time, I find it comforting. When I become X-Treme for Jesus, yes I’ll be hated, but Jesus has already gone through that so he knows what I feel. Try looking at it that way and it may help, sure helps me. There are many other verses that talk about not loving the world or keeping urself separate from the world. Here are a few: Matthew 10:39, Matthew 16:25, 1 John2:15-17, and John 12:25.

I pray that you will consider what you have just read. I listed only a few points and some verses to go along, as well as shorting everything so you wouldn’t have to read through a lot just to understand it all. If you would like more information, please e-mail me!