Take Up Your Cross DAILY

 Many believe following Jesus requires very little (if anything) from them except believing.  

Yet Jesus said in Matthew 16:24 (KJV)....

“Then said Jesus unto his disciples, 

If any man will come after me, 

- let him deny himself, 

- and take up his cross, 

- and follow me.”

 

There were a few things Jesus said were required of those who will come after Him:

.....They must deny themselves (not my will but Thine be done. Not 'me time' but 'time with Thee')

.....They must take up their cross (the cross was extremely heavy,  it was splinters, it hurts, it's not easy to carry)

.....and follow Jesus (wherever He leads, whether it's through the desert (the dry places), or climbing a rough rugged Rocky precarious mountain (the difficult places), or through a stormy sea (the trials that you feel will drown you), or beside still waters where He restores your soul. 

Are you willing to deny yourself?

Are you willing to take up your cross?

Will you follow Jesus wherever He leads? 

Following Jesus will cost you something.  

Oft times it costs more people are willing to give up as was the case with the rich young ruler.  

“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)