This is the invitation extended to us as followers of Jesus.
Luke 9:23 And He said to them all, If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.
Deny means - deny oneself, to disown, renounce self, disregard All personal interests and enjoyments.
cross means - to bear ones cross meaning to undergo suffering and trial, to expose oneself to reproach and death. ...
This is our invitation from Jesus Himself the words written in Red, Luke 9:23 says and He Said to them ALL. this is what following looks like.
Denying self and taking up our cross means something has to be crucified.
our flesh disowning and disreguarding turning away from personal interests & enjoyments.
selfish desires, selfish pursuits, Losing the lifestyle we once knew.
Losing all that defines the old man. denying self will cost us everything we lose our right
to live as we choose. popularity, letting go of earthly possessions and focusing on treasures in Heaven
Taking up our cross - the cross was a symbol of suffering, humility, death and sacrifice
we cannot carry a cross without suffering.
Philippians 1:29 For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on Him, but also to suffer for His sake
Is given - means - To give or bestow a thing willingly
To believe - means - To have faith in , commit to trust, to entrust one's spiritual well being .
To suffer - means - to experience , undergo an experience, to experience a sensation or impression ( usually painful)
2 Timothy 3:12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution
Luke 14:27 And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after Me, cannot be My disciple.
Count the cost.
Luke 14:28-31) 28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? 29 Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him. 30 Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish. 31 Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand?
count the cost to Follow Jesus
the cost - self denial, taking up our cross , forsaking all to follow, knowing what we are taking up when we take up our cross
living a denied life and taking up our cross
we can expect suffering, we can expect to be hated, despised, persecuted we can expect opposition
we can expect people to say all manner of evil against us falsely for the Name sake of the Lord.
if we have studied to show ourselves approved and counted the cost we will know what to expect and always be on guard and when trouble comes it wont come as a suprise or shock to our faith because we have counted the cost to follow we have studied to show ourselves approved we are prepared to be on guard and know what to expect.
The only True beauty comes from a life fully surrendered to Jesus Christ. where ourselves have died and gotten out of the way and Christ can be seen in us and through us.
As it was said In John 3:30 He must increase and I must decrease. when we get in the way and we are pursuing the things our flesh wants to pursue His beauty is not seen in us or through us.
the essence of the Gospel is becoming a living sacrifice for our King, following in His steps walking as He walked. and when we commit ourselves in pursuit of pleasing Him, nothing that we have is our own anymore.
1 Corinthians 6:19-20) 19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.
our time becomes His , our resources become His our money etc.. our plans change its not about us its all about Him. that He may be Glorified. daily we have a choice to deny ourselves our pursuits and plans and take up our cross and follow Jesus, His plans His will. often His will and His plans will stretch us and take us out of our comfort zone.
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