Jesus expectations of His followers

Luke 9:23-24 (NASB)

And He was saying to them all, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake, he is the one who will save it.” 

Are there any other two verses more provoking than these two in the entire Bible?  You claim to be a follower of Christ?  Then are you denying yourself and are you taking up your cross daily? 

What does Jesus mean by “he must (note the emphasis on ‘must’) deny himself”.  To deny is to forget or lose sight of your own interests.  You make your decisions based on “what would Jesus do?”  You put others first before yourself (Phil 2:3-4).  You don’t brag about yourself, you give the Lord credit for your accomplishments.  You don’t succumb to lustful, selfish desires.  I have in my Bible a written cross-reference to Mark 10:45, where Jesus stated His purpose---not to be served but to serve.  He expects his followers to have the same attitude and actions. 

What does Jesus mean by taking up your cross daily?  What is your cross?  I like what I heard from someone one time that it is not right to say that whatever burden you are carrying in your life is your cross.  Such thinking is self-pity and self-pity is pride.  Your cross represents the same thing as what the actual cross meant to Jesus.  The cross of Jesus represents His willingness to die for the sins of the world.  Your cross is your willingness to die to your own selfish desires and instead submit to Christ.  Jesus elaborated on this truth in verse 24 when He said that your willingness to lose your life (your selfish desires) for His sake will actually save your life from the sins that a selfish life produces.

To follow Jesus means to be fully committed to Him.  How committed are you?  Are you willing to give up relationships if they are adversely affecting your ability to follow Christ?  Are you willing to stand up for Christ if it means alienating family and friends?  Are you willing to follow Jesus if it means giving up something that you thought meant so much to you (e.g. a job, a dream, a lifestyle, a pursuit)?    

Note that Jesus starts His words with “If…….”  The choice or decision to follow Him is strictly voluntary, He is not forcing you nor can anyone else force you to follow Him.  One of my favorite pastors, Adrian Rogers, who preached and taught in alliteration, described this verse as

1.   A call to consider

2.   Conditions to meet

3.   A choice to make

What is your choice today?