There are many “hard sayings” in the Bible. Some of the hard sayings are hard because they are difficult to understand what they mean. What is the deal about head covering or the way Jesus talked to the Phoenician? Those are hard to understand. But there are other hard sayings in the Bible which are hard because of the demands they place upon us.
One such hard saying comes from Jesus himself. He did not mince words when He said, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me” (Mark 8:34). Note that Jesus here does not call us to go out of our way looking for crosses to carry. He does not set poverty up over wealth or hardship over comfort. But He does call us to pick up the cross He has laid in our path.
Self-denial and taking up your cross is not that same as asceticism. What Jesus is saying here is that we must end self’s rule over our own lives. I am convinced that the last great enemy of the soul is self itself.
The positive side of self-denial is living for Christ and His interests. Whenever the interests of God; the fame and promotion of His name, the everlasting life He offers and the glories of Christ are not what our thoughts, actions and motives are promoting, we are not taking up our cross and following Jesus. Self sits on the throne.
Thats why the Bible says, whatever you do, even the simplest of tasks like eating and drinking, do it all for the Glory of God (1 Cor. 10:31). This is what it mean to deny yourself, take up your cross and following Jesus.
Father, help me not to carry any load or cross that you have not given me. But wherever my self interests conflict with yours, may I deny myself and follow you.
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