Dying to live

If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. – Luke 9:23

The cross in Roman times was designed for death. It had no other use. So what did Jesus mean when He said that anyone who wants to follow Him must "take up his cross daily"? (LUKE 9:23). He wasn’t saying that we must all be crucified. The "cross" to which He was referring is the act of putting to death our own heart’s desires and quietly submitting to God’s will.

Such dying is denying our need for larger homes, more compliant children, more accommodating mates. It’s putting up with misunderstanding, embarrassment, and loss of esteem. It’s accepting our unchangeable circumstances. Missionary and poet Amy Carmichael, who knew much about pain and suffering, wrote, "In acceptance lieth peace."

Jesus said we must take up our cross daily. We are to rise each morning and cheerfully, bravely shoulder our load, because there is something else that is "daily". It is the continuous, sufficient grace of the One whose strength is made perfect in our weakness (2 CORINTHIANS 12:9), and who will never leave us nor forsake us (HEBREWS 13:5). He promises that through our dying He will make us more alive than ever before (1 CORINTHIANS 15:53-57).

Are you dying to live? – David H. Roper

Day by day, to fight the battle,

Day by day, Thy will to do,

Day by day, the cross to carry,

Seeking only to be true. – Fisher

READ: LUKE 9:18-26

In acceptance we find peace.