December 19, 2022

DENY, TAKE UP, AND FOLLOW

Matthew 16:24-28

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. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works.

Assuredly, I say to you, there are some standing here who shall not taste death till they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom.”

Personal Challenge

Living a life following Jesus Christ is not an easy life. It is a life filled with difficult decisions that will set us contrary to those around us who still follow the ways of the world. Sometimes this way of life will even set us on a contrary path to those who we worship beside. Jesus made it clear during His last days that if His disciples, His true followers, wanted to be with Him, they needed to do three things. First, is to deny ourselves. We are to be willing to die to ourselves and what we want in this world in order to begin the journey to righteousness. Second, we take up the cross that He has fashioned for us. Each of our crosses will be tailored for us individually by our Lord and we must take them up in the place of our denied self. Third, we are to follow Him. We strive to walk in in His footsteps. We love those whom He loved. We reject that which He rejected. We do what He asks us to do and go where He leads us, even when it makes no sense. By doing this we become little-Christs, growing in His image, and building His kingdom for Him. Glory be to God!