SATURDAY October 24, 2026

Do You Really Want to Follow Christ?

Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.”
Matthew 16:24

Jesus gave His followers a statement that challenged them in their commitment to Him, “If you really want to be My disciple, you have to deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow Me.” What was the first qualification? Jesus called His twelve disciples to deny themselves. This was very hard to do! Literally, the word deny means “to forget oneself, lose sight of oneself and one’s own interest.” When you deny yourself, you are laying aside your will and your desires for Christ’s.

The second qualification to be a disciple of Jesus Christ is to take up your cross. Did you know that the Persians were the ones who first invented and used crosses to crucify people? The Romans adapted it to crucify criminals. Do you understand the ramifications of taking up your cross? That action means that you are willing to die to yourself.

In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus submitted Himself to His Father’s will to be crucified. He denied Himself, picked up His Cross, and went to His death––crucifixion. He gave us an example in His willingness to suffer and submit to His Father’s will. Christ carried His Cross of suffering, and we are called to do the same––to carry our cross.

The third qualification to be a disciple of Christ is the call to follow Jesus. First, you are called to deny yourself; second, pick up your cross; and third, follow Jesus. What does it mean to follow Jesus? The word follow in the Greek language means “to cleave steadfastly to one, conform wholly to his example in living and, if need be, dying also.”

Are you ready to follow Jesus? Then, as you deny yourself, pick up your cross, and follow Jesus, you will begin an extraordinary journey with Him.

If I am to wholly follow the Lord Jesus Christ, I must forsake everything that is contrary to Him.
~A.W. Tozer~

For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!