To paraphrase pastor and writer A. W. Tozer: “One thing you knew about a man walking out of town with a cross on his back: He wasn’t coming back!”
This may sound straightforward and perhaps even a little flippant, but Tozer didn’t mean it that way. He was helping us see what true commitment means. In essence, he was asking: “Are we really dead to ourselves, to the world?”
It must have been confusing for Jesus’ listeners when he said, “If you do not carry your own cross and follow me, you cannot be my disciple” (Luke 14:27). The crowds had enthusiastically followed Him and now He offered them what? A form of torture and execution? This wasn’t something they would have expected from Him. He was at least a rabbi—a teacher—to them, and perhaps the promised Messiah. So why would He refer to such a hideous Roman punishment? It’s possible the crowd thinned out a bit at that point!
Jesus also talked about “hating” one’s own family (Luke 14:26). Now we can get around this one quite comfortably by saying that our love for Jesus should be so great that, in comparison, all other affections seem as hatred. But let’s ponder these things. Jesus wants all of our attention, every scrap of our lives. By taking up the cross we’re saying that we have died, are dying, and will die each day to all that we want, all our agendas, hopes, dreams, and plans. Why? Because of our love for Him, our understanding of our need for Him, and our certainty that we will spend eternity with Him.
What a huge challenge the crowd heard from Jesus that day—a challenge for us today. But Jesus’ loving example makes sense of it all. He “gave up his life for us” (1 John 3:16). By His power, may we do the same for Him and others!
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Mark 14:26-52
More:
Read Galatians 2:20 and think about what it means to be crucified with Christ.
Next:
How can you find the joy and the freedom that comes to all who die to self and are made alive in Christ? How does Jesus’ sacrificial example inspire you today?
godlove on September 20, 2016 at 3:39 am
It’s indeed a new life that Jesus offers us and it’s difficult to fully embrace the fullness of new life in Christ if we don’t put off our old self, for as Paul writes “Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires” (Galatians 5:24). Praise and thanks be given to GOD, therefore, for His Love through our Saviour Jesus Christ who literally carried the Cross for our Redemption and was physically crucified for our Salvation, so that in order to belong to Him, we now only have to carry our cross figuratively and be crucified spiritually. And there is certainly no turning back. Praise God! Thanks for this devotional today, Russell. Blessed day to all.
Gary Shultz on September 20, 2016 at 6:02 am
Hi Russell, I like where you took this as Godlove also mentions the death or crucifixion of oneself. The phrase “and will die each day to all that we want” is the working out of the commitment. We can make decisions, dedications and the like, which it is very good to decide a course of action, but the life walk is one of continual renewal to stay the course. Like the diet, a choice is great, but as we are distracted by temptations, it is a massive discipline to stay the course. I would think you will agree that the more the practice of placing Christ first the better and easier it gets. The desire for the taste of God’s love becomes so great that nothing can satisfy or fill that void. However, as long as we camp on earth dirt we can and will be temped we must chose this day (each day) who we will serve. Thanks Russell, stop by some time.
gagirllive on September 20, 2016 at 6:52 am
Amen, Russell. This is still the greatest challenge for us today, practically speaking. I would lose all hope of this being a reality in my daily experience if not for the words you used in your last sentence—“by His power”. Praise God that His commands are also His enablements! He never asks us to do anything that He does not empower us to do. As we “die daily” (and I would even say moment by moment) by surrendering our will to Christ so that the life of Christ is lived through us, we will experience what Galatians 2:20 means. May we remember that Christ, who loves us and gave His life for us, lives in us and through us. By the power of the Holy Spirit, we are able to take up our cross and follow Him. Thanks, Russell. Grace and peace to all today.
minkjh on September 20, 2016 at 1:06 pm
The cross has always been an enigmatic symbol for mankind. The apostle Paul profoundly noted that ‘the message of the cross is foolish to those headed for destruction, but we who are being saved know it is the very power of God’ (I Corinthians 1:18). I’m glad that many of you underscored the ‘daily’ aspect of the cross-walk because that’s the difficult part to follow when all the other stuff the world sends out pops up in our paths. I look at the leading illustration and am amazed how perfectly this fits today’s written message. The fact that the figure bent and struggling could invite us who labor and are heavy laden to come for rest in him is proof of that power Paul mentioned. Envision the background not of the sun setting on a life lived in vain on earth, but rather of the sun rising on the glory in heaven that awaits all who daily deny to self and walk in Christ.