Pick Up Your Cross

Scripture

Matthew 16:24 KJV

Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

God's Mind Today

Average Christianity is lukewarm Christianity, and Jesus hates it. If it is all comfortable, then it hasn't gotten beyond average. 

If we must live the way we like and do the things we like (even when it offends God), then we are not ready to experience a closer walk with God. 

To truly walk with God is demanding. Having an intimate relationship with Jesus requires sacrifice. It will cost us our life—the very life we hold so dear. 

Matthew 16:25 KJV

For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.

Make no mistake about this: when Jesus made the statement about losing our lives for Him, He wasn't saying that every Christian will become martyrs. He was simply stating clearly to us, the price for walking in close proximity with—Death To Self. 

There is no way anyone can get more of God if they are not willing to give all of them. More of God will require all of us. 

Matthew 10:37 KJV

He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.

It is a commandment to love God beyond everything else existence. Nobody and nothing deserves to take the place of God in our hearts. Jesus alone deserves the throne of our hearts. Not even your spouse deserves that place. 

Most of us desire to be mightily used of God, yet not too many are willing to completely submit to Him. 

Taking up our individual crosses daily to follow Jesus will require that we let go of so many things. The sin we love so much must go. The unGodly habit we hold so dear has to go. 

Apostle Paul was such a man who was willing to be crucified with Christ (Galatians 2:20), so as to gain more of Him. Till today, we are still benefitting from the outcome of him laying down his life for God's use. 

That dimension of walking with God cannot be explained, it can only be experienced. 

The will of the Lord is for everyone who is called by His name to walk in such a level of intimacy with Him. 

Key Point

If we must see the results of serving God manifest in our lives, we must serve Him according to His prescription, not according to our own prescription. 

If only we could grasp the benefits (in their entirety), then we would understand that nothing in this world is worth substituting an intimate relationship with God for. 

Prayer 

Father I appreciate You once again for reminding me of the need to let go of everything that is preventing me from experiencing a deeper walk with You. Plant in me the desire for more of You and enable me to go after just that, in Jesus Name I pray. 

Amen. 

The articles and dream interpretations on our blog are gotten through revelation. We don't go about stealing other people's content. If we did, this website wouldn't have survived till today. DESIST from copying or lifting any part of our content to your website, books or videos. God is against plagiarism (Jer. 23:30). All content are protected by DMCA with fast response rate. Don't say you were not warned !!