The Daily Nugget- Carry Your Cross
Hi All
In Matthew 16:24 Jesus tells His followers 'If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.'” This means that all believers need to fully commit to following Jesus by putting aside their own selfish desires, accepting personal sacrifices, and enduring hardships or trials for our faith. This is something if we are honest can be a struggle to maintain in our daily lives with all of its challenges and temptations.However Jesus made very clear the price we will pay if we choose to go our own way when He said “anyone who is not prepared to “take their cross and follow me” is not worthy of me"(Matthew 10:38). Jesus Himself warned us that being one of His followers would not be easy “In this world you will have tribulation”(John 16:33) but He also told us to “take courage because I have overcome the world”(John 16:33).
Be Blessed And Encouraged
Carry Your Cross
24 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. 25 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. 26 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? 27 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. 28 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.”
(Matthew 16:24-28)
In Christianity to “carry your cross”as Jesus speaks of in the gospels means all believers need to make a daily choice to live for God rather than for comfort or personal status. In the passage above Jesus explains to His disciples three prerequisites of discipleship which are”self denial,”
“self sacrifice” and "submission.” Jesus then goes on to explain the rewards of being a disciple stating “For whoever desires to save his life will lose it”, This means that we experience utter joy and fulfilment when we surrender our lives to Christ.We are all given one chance to “carry our cross” and live by putting our faith and trust in Jesus this is a priceless opportunity for us all to have a fresh spiritual start and become “new creations"(2 Corinthians 5:17) and like the apostle Paul be able to say “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.”(Galatians 2:20) Amen ! Thank You Lord.