Daily Devotional

-April 12, 2021-

Good morning, happy Monday,

-Take Up The Cross And Follow Christ-

“Then He said to them all, ‘If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it.’”

(Luke 9:23-24).

Today’s verses are on the subject of discipleship. Every disciple is a Christian but every Christian is not a disciple. Jesus spoke very clearly on what it means to follow Him. So many go to church on Sunday but live their own lives Monday through Saturday. Jesus never intended it to be this way. Discipleship is a daily way of life.

Jesus calls those who desire to come after Him. There are three things we must do: deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow the Lord Jesus. Good intentions mean little, it takes practical actions. Those who save their saves, that is, insulate themself from hardship and persecution will lose them; and those who lose their lives, that is fully surrender the control of their lives to Him will save them. Discipleship requires full commitment, dedication, and surrender to Christ.

• Deny yourself – Self denial is not easy. Our flesh wants to be in control and have its own way. Denying self is so important to doing God’s will and pleasing Him. We must deny ungodliness, lust, greed, pride, and selfishness. Our sinful flesh is one of our spiritual enemies, along with the world and the devil.

• Take up your cross daily – In the context of these words of Jesus, He had just told them. “The Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day.” The greatest earthly enemies we face are those who are religious. The history Christianity is littered with persecution from religious people such as the Jews and later from the Roman Catholic Church. As soon as we mention the name of Jesus Christ, people turn against us. Today, there is a lot of hatred, animosity, and persecution directed at Christians. Though we do not have physical persecution in U.S. as there is in many countries, unsaved people are against us. Luke is the only gospel writer to add the word, “daily.” We must take up our cross daily in our identification and commitment to Christ, no matter the cost.

• Follow Me – It is not enough deny ourselves and take up our cross daily, we must follow the Lord. To follow Christ is to live for Him and serve Him; to obey Him and walk with Him; and to spend time with Him in prayer and the Word. It is a daily commitment to follow Christ no matter who is or is not following Him. The unknown hymn writer wrote, “Tho’ none go with me, I still will follow; Tho’ none go with me, I still follow; Tho’ none go with me, I still will follow; No turning back, no turning back.”

Jesus said in Luke 9:62, “…No one, after having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” A disciple must always go forward not backwards. Are you a disciple of Christ? It is not too late. Jesus would never ask us to do something we cannot do. He is our Lord and our example.

Have a blessed day by denying self, taking up your cross, and following Christ. Stay safe and healthy.

Dean