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Day 22 Mark 8:34-38 Mark 8:34 And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. 35 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it. 36 For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? 37 Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? 38 Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels. Have you ever denied yourself something you really wanted? You spent a lot of time saving and planning for the event, and then decided not to go ahead with your plans? Most people wouldn’t let an opportunity they worked hard for slip through their fingers. Yet, Jesus said that anyone who followed him was to deny what they wanted to follow him. Or did he really say that? Many Christians think it’s their Christian duty to deny themselves the simple pleasures of life, for those things that are unpleasant and a burden. That’s not what Jesus asked anyone to do. Being a Christian isn’t supposed to be a burden. It’s supposed to be something one does because they love Jesus and what he did. Matthew 11:28 Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. Does it sound like Jesus is asking you to take a heavy burden on your lives? In Matthew he said his yoke was easy and his burden light. He was doing all the heavy lifting. We are to put our burdens on him, and he will shoulder the load. When you take on the cross of Jesus Christ, denying yourself, you are not denying those things that matter most to you. I guarantee, if they matter to you, they matter to Jesus too. When you accepted Jesus as Savior and Lord, you didn’t sign up for a life of drudgery and slavery. Jesus took your burden from you as soon as you accepted him. Then he gave you a new purpose. You knew that purpose as soon as you accepted him. How did you know it? Because you wanted to change your old sinful nature for a life renewed with hope and love. The cross Jesus wants you to take up isn’t a life of condemnation and pain, such as he suffered for you and me on his cross. The cross Jesus wants you to take up is one of loving your enemies. Doing good to those who despitefully use and abuse them. It’s turning the other cheek. It’s running away from a fight you cannot win and is pointless. It’s praying for those who are sick, in prison, celebrating new milestones in their lives. Jesus’ cross is not a burden of guilt and shame. It’s a cross freeing you from the slavery of sin and all its problems. It’s standing up to Satan and telling him to get out of your life and stay out. When you walk in the footsteps Jesus laid out for you, then you will be denying the sinful pleasures you indulged in before you accepted him as Savior and Lord, and you will delight in the gospel of Jesus Christ. Everywhere you go, and everything you do people will notice, because it isn’t doing as the world does, but doing as God directs you. Isn’t that the kind of life you want to live? One free from the guilt and shame Satan brings your way every day? Romans 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: 4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. 6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. (KJV) That is what Jesus meant when he said we are to take up our cross and follow him. Psalm 37:23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delights in his way. Will you take up your cross and follow Jesus? Or will you allow the ways of this world to influence your way of life? Let’s pray: Father, help me take up my cross and follow you. Your burden is light, and the life you promise is easy when you walk beside me. I cannot live in this world on my own. Be with me every step of the way. In Jesus’ name, I pray, amen. Copyright © 28 July 2018 by Valerie Routhieaux Image courtesy of Pixabay