A few weeks ago, I wrote an email about how living the Christian life is a DAILY experience, and how we are commanded by Jesus to deny ourselves and daily follow Him. I was referring to the passage in Luke 9:23, “And he said to all, ‘If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.'”
I thought I would explain that a little deeper. What do those 3 statements mean? 1. Deny self, 2. Take up your cross, 3. Follow me?
1. Denying self, means to lay aside ALL of our own desires, rights, wants – and letting our life be controlled by Him! It means forgetting our own comforts, pleasures, possessions, and absolutely putting Jesus First in everything we do.
2. Take up your cross. Many people seem to think this is referring to a trial or problem we have to bear, but it means much more than that. It is tied in with the denying self, and following Jesus. The more we deny self and follow Jesus, the more the world will hate us, just as they hated Christ – which led to them crucifying Him. Arthur Pink (1886 -1952) said about this, “Just in proportion as you and I are following Christ, just in proportion as our lives are being lived as His life was lived, just in proportion as we have come out of the world and are in fellowship with Him, so the world will hate us!” We cannot go around expecting everyone to applaud us when we seek to TRULY deny self and follow Him – many people will hate us and despise us – just as they did to Jesus. We must endure the scorn and hatred of others, who want nothing to do with the TRUE christian life.
3. Follow Me. Jesus didn’t give up obeying God’s commandments when things got rough. He didn’t throw in the towel when the world turned against Him. And note what 1 Peter 2:21-23 tells us, “For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly” He didn’t retaliate when the world hated Him. He simply lived the life God the Father commands all of us who trust in Him to live – a life of obedience, being a witness in this world of darkness. That’s the life we are to follow.
It’s impossible you say? Yes, it is…in our own strength. That’s why we are to live EACH day trusting in and walking with our Lord. If that sounds like too much to you, remember – He DIED for you! It’s NOT an easy road that TRULY leads to Heaven, that’s why MANY people never actually get on the right road.