The Three Step Program to achieve Death

What does it mean to live like Jesus? I mean, really, what would I do tomorrow if I wanted to live like the one I claim to love? I'm fairly certain life would look vastly different than it does now. For one, I consume too much of what is given to me. I spend huge amounts of effort just to maintain my own security. Most of what I work for ends up serving me. Conversely, I don't give time, money, anything in amount of any significance. I don't pour blessing into the lives of other people. I don't serve others in matters of substance. If examined by a third party, they would have to conclude that the purpose of my existence is self-sustenance. All of that is exactly what Jesus does not represent. He had everything and gave it all up. He lived and served and exerted effort for the sole purpose of declaring the kingdom of God. He had no place to lay his head, and he's the Lord of the universe. Who am I to claim so much for myself? How dare I take advantage of his sacrifice on my behalf and live as if my kingdom is more important than His?

What does it look like? It looks like change. It looks like passionately embracing sacrifice and pain because reality is that sacrifice is not sacrifice...it's life. Pain is not pain...it's joy. Christ doesn't exist to validate that I'm doing a good job. He says "Come. Follow me."