Luke 9:23, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me."
In case you haven't noticed already - the Christian life is a radical way to live. It's radical because it is contrary to the way the world says we should live. It's radical because it asks us to forsake our senses and live by faith. It's radical because we cannot do it on our own. However, what we come to know by experience is that this is the life that God rewards.
Deny Yourself > The world says to indulge yourself.
Take Up Your Cross > The world says to take it easy.
Follow Me > The world says to follow your heart.
It's pretty easy to see that God desires each of us to live radically different from the world. And if we aren't careful, we will gloss over what Jesus is saying in this verse. Our "cross to bear" does not refer to an annoying convenience or disadvantage in life. The heathen that you work with isn't your cross to bear. Think about it: Chained men condemned to die, dragging their own crosses to a place of execution. Roman crosses were heavy and rough. Carrying them was shaming, exhausting, and ultimately crushing.
What Jesus is proposing is a very personal exchange - your life now for His reward later. Are you willing to make this exchange? Are you willing to bear the burden of the Christian life? Are you willing to bear the shame and humiliation of being identified with Christ? If not...then you aren't willing to make Him Lord.
I can assure you that this life is worth living. There is joy unspeakable, peace that passes understanding, and grace that you cannot even begin to imagine. However, this is also a life that is willing to feel what God feels, love those whom God loves, and reach out to those that Jesus died for. We cannot escape this fact. There must be a denial of self, a carrying of a cross, and a following after Him.
Are you ready for a RADICAL LIFE?
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