Then he said to the crowd, ‘If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it.’
—Luke 9:23–24
Scripture:
One of the most common misconceptions about the Christian life is that it’s restrictive—that it keeps people from the things that make life fun and interesting. But that’s not the case at all. In fact, the opposite is true. Following Christ allows believers to avoid the pitfalls and consequences of making foolish choices.
People who follow Christ experience life to the fullest. Following Christ allows us to experience the blessings our Creator built into this earthly experience for our joy and fulfillment. Yes, there are boundaries and parameters, but they are for our own protection.
Jesus said, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow me” (Luke 9:23 NLT).
Most people today probably don’t fully grasp the idea of taking up a cross. But people living in the first century did. In Jesus’ time, someone carrying a cross through the streets of Jerusalem was about to die. So, when Jesus said, “Give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow me,” people got it. He was saying that, to follow Him, we must die to our own desires and put God’s will above our own.
Jesus also said, “If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it” (Luke 9:24 NLT). We must lose our life to find it.
Many people today like to say, “I need to find myself.” In other words, “I need to find the life that will satisfy me, bring me joy, and fulfill me.” But that perspective assumes a great deal. It assumes that we know where to look for such a life. It assumes that we will recognize it when we see it. It assumes that we are the final experts on what’s best for us.
But Jesus said that if you want to find life, purpose, and happiness, then you need to lose yourself. You come to God and say, “Here is my life. Here are my plans. Here are my dreams. Here are my hopes. Here are my aspirations. I present them to You. I want Your will more than my own.”
That’s not just a demonstration of faith, but also a matter of common wisdom. It’s like entrusting an operation to the world’s most highly skilled surgeon instead of trying to do it yourself. It just makes sense.
If you really want to find life, then lose your life. If you want to get a life, then present it to the Lord, and watch what He will do.
Reflection question: What would carrying your cross look like in your life? Discuss this with believers like you on Harvest Discipleship!
