TAKE UP YOUR CROSS AND FOLLOW ME
As we are in the season of Easter, we need to reflect about what the cross did for humanity. “And He said unto them all, if any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow me.” (Luk 9:23)
Jesus our Lord and Savoiur said if any man will come after me: As many of us that have decided to follow him, there is one important thing that we must do. We must deny ourselves of all the worldly pleasures and take up our cross daily and follow our Master. To deny ourselves is to be separated from all worldly lusts and pleasures. We will always have to choose either to be separated from the world and thus face hatred and persecution from the world like our Lord or to compromise and conform to the world and thus escape hatred and persecution from the world.(Jhn 15:18-19). The truth is that if we cannot deny ourselves, we cannot take up our cross daily and follow Him.
Taking up our cross daily means our unwavering decision and strong determination to obey the Lord and our total submission to do the perfect will of God. As God did not force the cross on His Son, Jesus Christ, don't expect God to force your cross upon you. If you are a true disciple of the Lord, you have no other choice but to take up your cross daily and follow your Lord and Master.
We should not forget that the gospel without the cross lacks power to save souls. The gospel is actually the message of the cross (1 Cor 1:18). The cross is God's plea that paved the way for our salvation through the suffering and crucification of our Lord Jesus Christ.
I conclusion, let us remember the word our Lord Jesus Christ in Matt 10:38: “And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me”. If any of us shall be worthy of Him, let us deny ourselves, take up our cross daily and follow Him. Let us pray and ask for His grace to help us to do this daily to the end in Jesus name. (Amen). Happy Easter celebration!
Pastor Adewale Adebayo
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