Take up your cross
Today's focusFollowing Jesus means denying ourselves and taking up our cross daily; whoever loses life for his sake will truly find it.
Read
23And 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. 24For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it. 25For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away? 26For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father’s, and of the holy angels. 27But I tell you of a truth, there be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the kingdom of God.
Reflection
In this passage, Jesus speaks directly to your heart about the cost and the reward of being His disciple. He invites you to "come after me," but this invitation includes a specific calling: to "deny himself, and take up his cross daily." This is not a one-time decision made in a moment of excitement; it is a quiet, steady choice you make every morning. To follow Him is to set aside your own agenda to walk the path He has marked out for you.
Jesus highlights the great exchange of the Christian life. He explains that if you try to "save" your life by grasping for your own desires, you will eventually "lose it." However, when you are willing to "lose" your life for His sake, you truly "save it." The things the world offers can be distracting, yet Jesus asks what you have really gained "if he gain the whole world, and lose himself?" True life is found not in what you accumulate, but in your faithful presence with Him as you walk toward His kingdom.
AI-written reflection on the passage above. Let Scripture itself be the main thing.
Reflect
What might 'taking up your cross daily' look like in your actual routine this week?
Pray
Lord, I want to follow you, not just admire you. Help me to deny myself and take up my cross daily. Thank you that in losing my life for you, I find true life.