Another quote I read the other day says, “To take up the cross of Christ is no great action done once for all; it consists in the continual practice of small duties which are distasteful to us.” That quote was attributed to John Henry Newman. I do not think it is saying taking up the cross (my thought is this means becoming a christian) is not one of the most important things a person can ever do but offers a commentary on the fact that becoming a Christian is a life-long commitment.
In fact, I think Jesus would encourage us to think about this decision because it is a life-long decision (Luke 14:28-33). How would it look if someone bought land and laid a foundation for a house only to stop there because they ran out of money? Or what if we were to go to war with half of the troops the other country had in service? In both cases, there was some poor planning. I think that is what Jesus is teaching here. Being a Christian is not a one time commitment but a daily commitment. In fact, that is what He teaches in Luke 9:23. It says, “And He was saying to them all, if anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow me.”
That daily part can be tough, and I think that is what the quote is referencing at the end when it says, “the continual practice of small duties which are distasteful to us.” I am sure some Christian things are a joy to you, but are there any that are distasteful? Maybe practicing what the Bible says about marriage or controlling our tongue or temper. Maybe we struggle with prayer or Bible study. Could it be evangelism or loving that one neighbor as myself? Possibly it is that one coworker or fellow student that you struggle showing Christ in your life to because they are mean. It can be easy to make a quick decision, but being a Christian is a daily decision. Chose Jesus. He can help you.