Following Jesus means letting go of our own way, day by day.
“And 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.”Luke 9:23 (KJV)
What does “Take up” mean in Luke 9:23?
The verb deny means to say no to oneself, to refuse to make our own wants the center. Taking up his cross daily describes an ongoing choice, not a single moment.
Going deeper
Jesus said this to all His disciples, not only a few. If any man will come after me, He said, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. The cross in that world was a well-known symbol of shame and death. To carry one meant to accept a hard road. Jesus asks His followers to be willing to let go of their own agenda and to follow Him wherever He leads. The word daily is important. This is renewed each morning.
That may sound heavy, yet in the next verse Jesus explains that whoever loses his life for His sake will save it. Denying ourselves is not the loss of who we are. It is finding who we were made to be. This week, look for one small place to say no to yourself for the sake of love. It could be a comfort, a preference, or a reaction. Then follow Him. Lent is an ideal season to practice the daily choice.
Reflect
Where could you say no to yourself this week for the sake of love?
Pray
Jesus, I want to follow You. Help me to let go of my own way each day, and to find my life in You. In Jesus' name, amen.
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