TAKE UP YOUR CROSS

Key Verse:

"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."

— Luke 9:23;

After the LORD JESUS explains to HIS disciples that HE must suffer, HE tells them that if anyone will come after HIM, he or she must deny himself or herself, take up his or her cross daily, and follow HIM.

The LORD JESUS expects us to meet these requirements to be HIS worthy disciples.

It is good and encouraging to hear, talk and sing about the cross but living the life of the cross matters the most to the LORD.

The LORD is not only interested that we know or sing nice melodies about the cross but also to actually take up our cross and follow HIM.

By taking up our cross, the LORD JESUS is telling us to die to the flesh, denying ourselves of ungodly and selfish desires, lifestyles and ambitions and forsaking the momentary pleasures of sin and the world.

Secondly, we surrender our lives to the LORD JESUS fully trusting in HIS grace and power and not ours. We no longer depend on our strengths, achievements, abilities and even our flaws.

We submit completely to the leadership of CHRIST.

Again, we serve the LORD JESUS. Therefore, we are to live only to please the LORD and when necessary, we must be willing to suffer for CHRIST'S sake.

Furthermore, we must imitate CHRIST. We know that in the earthly ministry of our LORD JESUS, HE takes up HIS cross and dies for us leaving us an example that we should follow. Thus, we ought to do what HE does, go where HE goes, accept  what HE accepts and so on.

This is our calling, Brethren, and we must answer the call of the LORD JESUS positively. Though it is difficult yet HIS grace is sufficient for us.

"If we suffer, we shall also reign with him:"

2 Timothy 2:12a

May the LORD help us.

Amen 🙏🙏🙏