”Then he said to them all: "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.
Luke 9:23New International Version (NIV)
Luke 9:23 Devotional
The Cost of Discipleship
Luke 9:23 tells us that to want to be Christ’s disciple is to want a costly, yet very honorable and rewarding life. A life that requires you to deny yourself and give yourself to Christ. That is to be Christ-centric (Romans 7:18-21)) by taking up your cross daily. This is surrendering to perennial discomfort by dying to yourself (Romans 6:6, Galatians 2:20, and Romans 12:1)), and following Christ.
Remember, life is a function of choices. Therefore, you may realize that many of the choices we have made were for us. And we have been living a selfish life that has been filled with many of our own desires. We have lived a life of comfort for ourselves.
Consequently, you have to put effort and work into your fellowship with Jesus Christ. And this is a personal choice and undertaking. Because you have to be very intentional about the same. There’s no other way around it.
Therefore, it is a choice to love Jesus Christ by committing fully to Him and rejecting self. It is shifting from being His enthusiastic fan or secret admirer to a committed follower (1 Peter 2:21). And it is giving up the earthly/temporary (that of little value) for the heavenly/eternal (that of immeasurable value) (Matthew 13:44-46).
Actually, following Jesus is an exciting life that is accompanied by a great cost. It is God inviting you to become selfless, fearless, and trusting.
Prayer/Blessing
Lord, I desire to be Your fully committed follower. Help me maintain a committed fellowship with You always. I pray this in Jesus’ Name, Amen.
May you receive the grace to deny yourself and take up your cross daily and follow Christ. Amen.
Daily Bible Reading
Leviticus 19-21 (see How to Read the Bible in One Year or How to Read the Bible (for Beginners))
