Taking up the Cross
Then He said to them all, "If anyone wants to come with Me,
he must deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow Me."
Luke 9:23 HCSB
When Jesus addressed His disciples, He warned them that each one must, "take up his cross daily, and follow me." Christ's message was clear: in order to follow Him, Christ's disciples must deny themselves and, instead, trust Him completely. Nothing has changed since then.
When we have been saved by Christ, we can, if we choose, become passive Christians. We can sit back, secure in our own salvation, and let other believers spread the healing message of Jesus. But to do so is wrong. Instead, we are commanded to become disciples of the One who has saved us.
Do you seek to fulfill God's purpose for your life? Then follow Christ. Follow Him by picking up His cross today and every day that you live. Then, you will quickly discover that Christ's love has the power to change everything, including you.
Discipleship means personal, passionate devotion to a person, our Lord Jesus Christ.
Oswald Chambers
It is the secret of true discipleship to bear the cross, to acknowledge the death sentence that has been passed on self, and to deny any right that self has to rule over us.
Andrew Murray
There is not Christianity without a cross, for you cannot be a disciple of Jesus without taking up your cross.
Henry Blackaby
If we would be followers of Christ, indeed we must become personally and vitally involved in His death and resurrection. And this requires repentance, prayer, watchfulness, self-denial, detachment from the world, humility, obedience, and cross carrying.
A. W. Tozer
Today's Prayer
Help me, Lord, to understand what cross I am to bear this day. Give me the strength and the courage to carry that cross along the path of Your choosing so that I may be a worthy disciple of Your Son. Amen
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