Then Jesus said to all of them, “If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me. — Luke 9:23

Following Jesus has a cost, and he never hid it: deny yourself, take up your cross daily, and follow me—the world will hate you, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. But here's what sustains us: we're not our own, we're bought with a price, and the cross of Christ makes self-denial not just possible but joyful. We know the one we follow, and we know where he's taking us.