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Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it. --- Luke 9:23-24 NIV To take up the cross meant to carry one’s own cross to the place of crucifixion. Many Galileans had been killed that way by the Romans---and Jesus would face it as well. With this word picture, Christ presented a clear and challenging description of the Christian life. Being his disciple means putting aside selfish desires, shouldering one’s “cross” every day, and following him. It is simple and yet so demanding. For the original Twelve, this meant literal suffering and death. For believers today, it means understanding that we belong to him and that we live to serve his purposes. Consider this: Do you think of your relationship with God primarily in terms of what’s in it for you (which is considerable) or in terms of what you can do for him? Are you willing to deny yourself, take up your cross daily, and follow him? Anything less is not discipleship; it is merely superficial lip service.(See also the note on 14:27.) --- Life Application Study Bible notes PRAYER Dear Heavenly Father, I want to surrender my life to You, to take up my cross daily and follow You. Teach me to deny myself. Give me the mindset of denying my own desires overcoming my selfish temptations. Instead, let me seek You and Your will first. Reveal Your will for me as I offer myself as a living sacrifice to You, that I will be able to fulfill it with Your strength, guidance and discernment. May all praise, glory, honor, strength, and dominion be Your and Yours alone, forever and ever. In Jesus’ name, Amen