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151. Me? Deny Myself?

Matthew 16:24-28, Mark 8:34-9:1, Luke 9:23-27 & 14:25-35
Key Verse: Then He said to them all: "If anyone would come after Me, He must deny himself and take up his cross "daily" and follow Me."
Luke 9:23

This is a sobering follow up to Jesus' warnings about Himself yesterday. He is laying out the plain truth. There are no frills here. Jesus is not holding out the promise of an easy life.
Yesterday, Jesus warned His disciples that rough times were ahead for Him. Today, Jesus is letting them know that following Him won't be easy for them either.

Why does He do this? He could have been so popular! He is too loving and honest for that. He wants His followers to count the cost. He isn't about to lure in unsuspecting victims that come just for the free food and blessings. That's not what following Jesus is all about.

Like the man who builds the tower or the king with an army, a decision to follow Christ needs to be a thoughtful one. Are you prepared to deny yourself, to do what God calls you to do even if it isn't what you want to do? Are you prepared to follow Jesus even if you are criticized for doing so? Are you prepared to follow Jesus if it means giving up your earthly dreams, living with less, or giving more away? Are you truly willing to make Him Master so that when He says "go," or "do," you reply, "Yes, Lord?" Is following Christ just a game to you, or a life changing practice?

What does your walk with Jesus mean to you? Is it nice worship songs and exciting mission trips or is it daily giving and serving as He works in your life to make you more like Him? He has placed a high price on following Him. But then, He paid a much higher price for you to be able to do it. Value the opportunity you have and experience His blessing in return.

To quote the now famous words of James Eliot: "He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose." Time and time again, Jesus has taught that we do ourselves and Him a disservice when we get caught up in the here and now, the physical, material world of today and chase after and collect things that we can never hold permanently. We will lose it all someday in the process of life itself, and even if we manage to hold on, we will leave it all behind at death. In Christ, we lose nothing of true value. He is the One reality that we can keep with us through eternity. Like Peter on the lake, when we lift our eyes and focus on Jesus, what is real and true will become clear. The things of this world will lose their importance.

Hymn: Take Up Your Cross  Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir

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