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[Jesus said] “Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.”

In Jesus’ day, you wouldn’t find people wearing cross necklaces or hanging a cross to decorate their homes. The cross was an instrument of death. So I can only imagine the puzzled looks on the faces of the people who first heard this. “Take up a cross? Why would I do that? Are you crazy, Jesus?”

No, Jesus wasn’t crazy. He was telling his disciples, and us for that matter, that as we follow him, we say ‘no’ to the desires of our sinful self. It means denying our natural desire to be in control, to protect our comfort, reputation, or ambitions. Instead, we surrender everything to him.

This is hard for us to hear at times. Our natural way of thinking is to find our life on our own terms—building security through money, success, or pleasure. Our natural way of thinking is to make choices that prioritize self. But Jesus says that way of life, that path, only leads to eternal loss.

Rather, “whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.” To clarify, this is not a call to destroy ourselves or seek suffering for its own sake. Rather, it is a command to suffer whatever is necessary in order to follow Jesus. Even if it means suffering death itself, it is worth it, because Jesus gives his followers eternal life.

Because Jesus gave himself up for us, we are declared worthy and made perfect before God. So, take up your cross and follow him! Deny your selfish desires and follow Jesus as he leads you closer to God and to your home with him in heaven.

Dear Jesus, you took up the cross I deserved and lost your life to save mine. Forgive me for the times I have tried to save my own life and refuse to follow you. Help me daily deny myself, take up my cross, and follow you. Amen.

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All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.