Luke 9:23-24
Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it.

Application:

In light of the path he must take as the Messiah, he informed them of what it would look like for believers to identify with him on the path of true discipleship. The one who wants to follow God’s Messiah must deny himself—that is, place Jesus’s glory ahead of his own. He must also take up his cross daily.*

This is a clear allusion to crucifixion. People condemned to it were required to carry their crosses to the place of execution. Likewise, true disciples must daily submit to Christ’s authority over their lives, even suffering and death. To follow King Jesus is to live according to God’s kingdom agenda, which is the visible manifestation of God’s comprehensive rule over every area of life.*

The cross of Christ became relevant to us the day we accepted Jesus as our Savior, but we don’t leave it behind after the moment of salvation. Instead, we’re to carry it with us.*

Our “cross” has to do with our public identification with Jesus. To bear our cross is to endure hardship specifically because we’re a visible and verbal follower of Him. If we’re unwilling to do that, we’re unworthy of Christ—that is, our relationship is distant (Matthew 10:38).*

*Ref: Tony Evans, The Tony Evans Bible Commentary (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2019), 1375–1376.

To God be the glory!

Our Lord Jesus Christ created everything! By Him, For Him!

“The Lord bless you and keep you; The Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; The Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.” Numbers 6:24-26

Disclaimer

When God inspires me, I write blogs. Consider this writing as a Bible study. Like the Bereans in Acts 17:11, search the Scriptures to determine whether what I write is so. Always consult with your church ministers about biblical matters. I am also not a professional writer, so some grammar or spelling errors may be present. I try my best to write as efficiently as possible. Your brother in Christ, Ricardo

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