Taking Up Your Cross

"Then he said to them all: 'Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.'" - Luke 9:23 (NIV)

Denying oneself, as Jesus commands us, demands a radical abandonment of our own ambitions and comforts in favor of prioritizing Christ above all else.?

It's a call to surrender our will to His, dying to ourselves and acknowledging His lordship over our whole lives. This act of surrendering isn't a one-time event but a daily practice. It requires constant renewal of our commitment to trust and obey.

Taking up our cross involves taking the sacrifices that could come with following Jesus. Just as the cross represented suffering for Jesus, we too must be willing and prepared to endure hardships for the sake of our faith.

As we read this passage, let's examine our hearts and consider the areas of our lives where we still struggle to fully surrender to God.

Are there fears or desires that you're hesitant to give up? Are you clinging to control in certain aspects of your life instead of trusting in His provision?

In denying ourselves and taking up our cross, we get to know Christ better and experience even more the richness of His grace.

Power of 4 Discussion Question:

What steps can you take to more fully surrender to Jesus in all areas of your daily life?