Whoever Wants To Be My Disciple Must Deny Themselves And Take Up Their Cross Daily And Follow Me
Living For Jesus
LUKE 9:23-25
“Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost?”
Luke 9:23-25 NKJV
https://www.bible.com/114/luk.9.23-25.nkjv
What does it mean to deny oneself and take up his cross daily?
It means exactly that, to put Christ first in all things, serving God every day, not just assembling once a week in church.
It means putting aside the things of this world, such as money, status, and lifestyle, living to fulfil God’s plans and purposes rather than one’s own, even if it brings suffering.
Rather than putting one’s time, money, and effort into the things of this world, he makes his focuses on serving God, even if that means giving up material things or suffering.
It means to follow His selfless way of life by the leading of the Holy Spirit, who empowers us to walk in the Spirit rather than by the cravings and lust of the flesh that leads us into all kinds of sin (see GALATIANS 5:16:26).
The Romans killed many Galatians by way of crucifixion as was Jesus Christ.
With this word picture, Jesus gave us a clear description of Christian life.
Being a disciple means, being a disciplined follower of Christ, living godly lives, putting aside selfish desires and shouldering one’s own “cross” every day.
For the original twelve, this meant suffering and even death. But for us today, it means giving up one’s worldly life to serve God even if that means enduring persecution and suffering; letting go if necessary to both people and the things of this world to serve our Lord and master. “For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it (9:24).
If your present life is most important to you, you will do everything you can to protect it and your material things, your money, safety, health, and comfort.
By contrast, if your eternal life and serving God is most important, you might find yourself in uncomfortable or dangerous places, giving or putting your money into godly projects or even risking death; living life not foolishly, though it might look like that, but by the leading of the Holy Spirit.
That may mean giving up a holiday, or a change of career, or relocation.
It may mean investing one’s money into godly projects, or opening one’s home for meetings, or making time to attend and serve in other meetings, not of the passions of the flesh, but by the leading of the Holy Spirit.
There are many ways in which we can serve God in our daily lives, for He shall bring opportunities every day to reach out to the lost and tell them of the treasure you found, and to give to the needy, whether some physical help, money, or a word of encouragement.
That doesn’t mean we believers shouldn’t have a nice home or car, or quality of life, or money in the bank to fall back on; in deed God gives us the desires of our heart if we trust and rejoice in Him (PSALM 37:3-4).
But it does means to be ready to let go of money, time, and material things when led by the Spirit, and to make God’s plans and purposes number one whatever the cost.
Jesus died a horrific death on a cross for you, that you might experience forever the gift of life, are you ready to live for Him?
Are you ready to take up your cross and follow Jesus?
All glory to God forever and ever! Amen.
