If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.
Walking through life as a disciple of Christ requires a lifestyle of sacrifice. Jesus’ words in the original Greek does not refer to a one-time acceptance of a hypothetical cross that looks like inconvenience or struggle.* Jesus’ words require an ongoing acceptance of His position of Lordship in our life that looks like following His example of willingness to forsake all (even life) for the advancement of the Kingdom. For followers of Jesus, their life is not their own, but it is His.
Jesus explains that to attempt to save one’s own soul equate to the loss of it, but the one who gives it up for Christ gains it. The eternal rewards of a life lived for Him outweighs the costs here in this life.
What does this mean? All of the self-help books and all of the work to restore, renew, and change our own mind, will, and emotions will result in a fatal failure of loss. The one thing that brings life is accepting a death to this life, a denial of all, for a life in Him.
Many of us live pour out our lives for something. In our culture, we sacrifice our lives for various things and don’t think twice. We sacrifice our mind, will, and emotions for our jobs. We destroy our marriages for our lust. We trade our financial futures for new cars and sporting events. We trade our families for hobbies and pleasures. Often we sacrifice all of this and more in pursuit of comfort, peace, and joy. We lose these things and more in this pursuit.
Today, take a step.
Maybe today the one step God wants you to take is to recognize Him as Lord. Perhaps God wants you to stop giving up your life for things of this world that cannot deliver what you need. Maybe God wants you to take up your cross now.
Whatever the step, ask God to direct it. Take a moment to take that step. Invite Him to speak. He will.
Life is a long road. Walk it with Jesus. Take a step today… just one is fine.
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*Leon, Morris, The Gospel According to Matthew. Pillar New Testament Commentary (Wm. B. Eerdmans, 1992), 431–435, and Keener, C. S., Matthew (Vol. 1, Mt 16:24-27) (InterVarsity Press, 1997).