“DENY HIMSELF!”

 

Luke 9:23-27                 (ESV)

Take Up Your Cross and Follow JESUS

[23] And HE (JESUS) said to all, “If ANYONE  would come after ME, let him “DENY HIMSELF” and TAKE UP HIS CROSS DAILY and follow ME. [24] For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. [25] For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself? [26] For whoever is ashamed of ME and of MY words, of him will the SON of MAN be ashamed when HE comes in his glory and the glory of the FATHER and of the holy angels. [27] But I tell you truly, there are some standing here who WILL NOT taste death until they see the kingdom of GOD.”

Defining the term JESUS is weightier than my feeble mind can totally grasp?  HIS INSTRUCTION and GUIDANCE is FAR MORE inclusive than this brain damaged person can comprehend.   As I began writing this devotional this morning, this passage of Scripture was on my mind.   As I preceded to Sunday School and Easter Sunday service, my mind was continuously being altered by “the cares of this world”!!!

But then I “get back to” JESUS and HIS MESSAGE to ALL!  Yes, JESUS said in the first verse of today’s focal passage to ANYONE who would “come after ME, let him “DENY HIMSELF” and TAKE UP HIS CROSS DAILY and follow ME”!  

It seems that my biggest challenge in my life is to “DENY HIMSELF”!  For that to occur, I MUST TAKE UP HIS CROSS DAILY, to KILL my selfish desires and LIVE FOR HIM?!?  I MUST doesn’t leave room for error, it simply means that one MUST “DENY HIMSELF”………DAILY!!!  To ASSURE that this HAPPENS, I MUST DIE (TAKE UP HIS CROSS)…….DAILY!!!!

JESUS KNEW that humanity (me!) would never have a chance of living a life where I would TAKE UP MY CROSS DAILY, so HE PAID THE PRICE in my place on Calvary’s Tree!!!  I must “DENY HIMSELF” AND PROCLAIM HIS GOODNESS AND MERCY for my wretched soul!!!