Walking with God - 4/12
Taking Up the Cross
- About
- Download
Taking up the cross (dying to self) is essential for being a Christian. Although it brings suffering and persecution, it should be counted as joy because all things work together for good to those who love God.
SUMMARY
Jesus says in Luke 9:23-27 that if anyone desires to come after Him he must a) take up his cross, b) deny himself daily and c) follow Him. He that is unwilling to let go of self, Jesus says will be destroyed (Luke 9:24); does not deserve Jesus (Matthew 10:38); and cannot be His disciple (Luke 14:27). The one who is dead to self continually surrenders to God. Every time he has to make a decision, he surrenders so that the Lord makes the decision. When tempted he surrenders, so that the Lord confronts the temptation. And God wills and does according to His good pleasure through him who has become a vessel. Until this happens, there is a competition between self and Jesus – but you cannot serve two masters.
Jesus said that before one builds a house, he must count the cost. Before becoming a Christian, one should count the cost. Consider what it meant to Jesus. The cross brings offence (Galatians 5:11); persecution (Galatians 6:12). However we should rejoice because it is God who allows things to happen to us; and all things work for the good of those who love God.
SUMMARY
Jesus says in Luke 9:23-27 that if anyone desires to come after Him he must a) take up his cross, b) deny himself daily and c) follow Him. He that is unwilling to let go of self, Jesus says will be destroyed (Luke 9:24); does not deserve Jesus (Matthew 10:38); and cannot be His disciple (Luke 14:27). The one who is dead to self continually surrenders to God. Every time he has to make a decision, he surrenders so that the Lord makes the decision. When tempted he surrenders, so that the Lord confronts the temptation. And God wills and does according to His good pleasure through him who has become a vessel. Until this happens, there is a competition between self and Jesus – but you cannot serve two masters.
Jesus said that before one builds a house, he must count the cost. Before becoming a Christian, one should count the cost. Consider what it meant to Jesus. The cross brings offence (Galatians 5:11); persecution (Galatians 6:12). However we should rejoice because it is God who allows things to happen to us; and all things work for the good of those who love God.
