Take Up Your Cross
When Jesus explained to His disciples what it takes to be a follower of Christ, He used the cross to make His point. The cross was the instrument of death used by the Romans, and when a person took up his cross, he was about to lose his life. Jesus called on us to do this voluntarily, so we could experience real life in Him. (Matthew 16:24,25) Have you taken up your cross, lost your life, and found real life? That is the only way to eternal life.
First, we must deny ourselves. We must not desire what we want. We must not live for ourselves and for our own pleasures or purpose. We must die to our way, and lose our life for the sake of having the life of Christ. When we do that sincerely and fully, then, we can and will follow Christ and nothing else. Therefore, we do have to lose to gain, but what we gain is so much better than anything we have lost.
Remember, one day you will lose your life whether you want to or not. You will die physically. What will you have then? If you do not have eternal life, you will have nothing. However, if you have given up your life to follow Christ, you will have everything. Which is better?
Tomorrow, I intend to read Matthew 17-19.
First, we must deny ourselves. We must not desire what we want. We must not live for ourselves and for our own pleasures or purpose. We must die to our way, and lose our life for the sake of having the life of Christ. When we do that sincerely and fully, then, we can and will follow Christ and nothing else. Therefore, we do have to lose to gain, but what we gain is so much better than anything we have lost.
Remember, one day you will lose your life whether you want to or not. You will die physically. What will you have then? If you do not have eternal life, you will have nothing. However, if you have given up your life to follow Christ, you will have everything. Which is better?
Tomorrow, I intend to read Matthew 17-19.