Jesus said, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me” (Matthew 16:24). That is a serious invitation. Jesus is not forcing anyone to follow Him. He says, “Whoever wants to.” In other words, the door is open, but the choice is ours. The question is not only, “Do I believe in Jesus?” but also, “Am I willing to follow Him when He asks for all of me?”
Following Jesus is not just adding a little religion to our lives. It is not simply going to church, wearing a cross necklace, or saying the right words. Jesus calls us to something deeper. He calls us to surrender. Romans 12:1 says to offer our bodies as “a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God.” That means discipleship is not only something we say with our lips; it is something we offer with our lives.
To deny yourself does not mean you hate yourself. It means you stop letting yourself be the boss. It means your desires, pride, comfort, and plans no longer get the final word. Jesus does. We learn to pray, “Lord, not my way, but Your way.” Galatians 2:20 says, “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.” That is the heart of surrender: less of self, more of Christ.
Then Jesus says to take up your cross. In His day, the cross was not a decoration. It was not jewelry. It was a place of death. So when Jesus talks about the cross, He is talking about dying to the old life—the selfishness, sin, pride, bitterness, fear, and control that keep us from fully following Him. Colossians 3:2–3 says to set our minds on things above, because our old life has died and our true life is now hidden with Christ in God.
Taking up your cross does not mean looking for misery or pretending pain is holy by itself. It means willingly choosing obedience even when it costs something. It may mean forgiving when you would rather stay angry. It may mean telling the truth when lying would be easier. It may mean walking away from something you want because you know it is pulling you away from God.
Luke 9:23 says we are to take up our cross daily. That word matters. Daily means this is not a one-time decision. Every day we choose again. Every day we decide whether self will lead or Christ will lead. Every day we lay down what is not like Him and pick up the life He is calling us to live.
And notice what Jesus says after “take up your cross”: “follow me.” The cross is not the end of the story. It is the doorway to real freedom. When we die to the old life, we begin to live the new life. When we stop clinging to our own way, we become free to walk with Jesus.
This kind of discipleship is not always easy, but it is worth it. Jesus never promised that following Him would cost nothing. But He did promise that losing life for His sake is how we find true life. The old self may resist surrender, but the soul finds peace when Christ becomes Lord.
So take up your cross does not mean carrying every burden alone. It means walking with Jesus in surrender, obedience, humility, and trust. It means saying yes to Him even when the path is hard. It means letting His cross shape your heart until your life begins to look more like His.
Reflection: What part of my life still wants to stay in control? What am I holding onto that Jesus is asking me to lay down? Where is He calling me to follow Him more closely today?
Prayer: Lord Jesus, help me deny myself, take up my cross, and follow You. Teach me to surrender what keeps me from You. Give me courage to obey, humility to let go, and faith to trust Your way over mine. Make my life more like Yours each day. Amen.
Minister A Francine Green I July 2026