And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.
Luke 9:23
Deny Yourself
Self-denial doesn’t mean believing that you have no value. It means that Jesus has paramount value.
Our natural question is often:
- What do I want?
- What makes me happy?
- What is easiest for me?
- What do I deserve?
Jesus turns the question around:
“What does Jesus want?”
That can affect our relationships, our money, our time, our words, our entertainment, our priorities, and our decisions.
Charles Spurgeon said “Self-denial is the very essence of Christianity.” He also, “I have now concentrated all my prayers into one, and that one prayer is this, that I may die to self, and live wholly to Him.”
Take up Your Cross
The cross was an instrument of death. So when Jesus used this language, His listeners understood that He was talking about something serious. To take up our cross means being willing to die to our old way of living and live for Christ…die to your old ways of thinking and think like Jesus…die to your old ways of speaking and speak like Jesus.
Present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God.
Romans 12:1
Take it up Daily
Following Jesus is not a one-time decision followed by a lifetime of doing whatever we want. We all have good days and challenging days. Days when following Jesus seems like more of a natural extension of ourselves. And days we feel so detached. Every morning presents another opportunity to say: “Jesus, I am Yours today.”
Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
Ephesians 5:1-2, 15-17
Yesterday’s obedience doesn’t replace today’s obedience. Yesterday’s prayer doesn’t replace today’s prayer. Yesterday’s faithfulness doesn’t replace today’s faithfulness. Every day we choose whom we will follow.
Choose this day whom you will serve.
Joshua 24:15
There is something powerful about beginning each day with: “Lord, my life belongs to You. Help me follow You today.”
For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself?
Luke 9:24-25
What Surrender Looks Like
- Noah surrendered by building the ark (Genesis 6)
- Abraham surrendered by offering his son (Genesis 22)
- Esther surrendered her safety to approach the King (Esther 4:16)
- Mary surrendered her future plans to God (Luke 1:38)
- Disciples Simon and Andrew surrendered their professions to follow Jesus (Matthew 4:20)
- Apostle Paul surrendered his pride and status (Philippians 3:7-8)
“So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”
Philippians 2:1-8
Jesus humbled Himself and became obedient, even to death on a cross.
True surrender eventually becomes visible in our choices. We surrender when we forgive instead of holding a grudge. We surrender when we obey God even when it’s inconvenient. We surrender when we choose holiness over temptation. We surrender when we serve instead of demanding to be served. How would your life look different if you surrendered more?
God is ready to assume full responsibility for the life wholly yielded to Him.
Andrew Murray
Peace in the surrender to Christ brothers and sisters.
