SCRIPTURE: Matthew 16:24 – Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.”
COMMENTARY: Jesus’ words were direct and to the point. The disciples knew what crosses were and they were not ornaments worn on necklaces or designs in tattoo parlors. Crosses were the most violent and horrible instruments of execution. Can you hear the gasps and see the shudders reverberate through that group of men?
Before we go any further on the cross in our reflection this morning, let’s read the passage one more time and focus on a tiny word – if. Jesus is not bullying us into this instruction to carry our cross. He isn’t getting us to pack our bags for a guilt trip either. He simply offers a path and is honest about its hardships that come with the joys. In this passage is simply, an opportunity to die to self. There is a cost and he makes it clear in three parts: deny yourself, say, ‘Yes’, to Jesus and then follow him.
Today we focus on denying our innate selfishness in ambitions, behaviors, attitudes and desires. When you have laid those things down I encourage you to take something up worth dying for. Be so devoted to it and the things of God that you would have to be crucified to stop it.
Realize this – we make many choices every day and we are either saying ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ to God. Here’s a question to ponder: Are you getting better at knowing God or ‘No’-ing God?
REFLECTION: What are some of your selfish ambitions, behaviors, attitudes and desires? Which of them have been a part of your life this past week? Which ones are patterns or habits in your life? What really is the attraction of these things to you? What do they actually get for you? How can you ‘starve’ these things during this time of self-denial? What does it mean to you to ‘take up your cross’? Is the reward worth the price to you?
Lord, We invite You to come and shine with us these days that we have committed to searching for You. May we learn to 'know' you more and glean strength to stand against saying 'no' to You. Be with us in our time of reading, reveal Yourself to us in deep and personal ways. We love You, Jesus.
ReplyDeleteThis passage brings to mind a book study I just had the privilege of completing. We examined the issue of what the New Testament writers meant when they spoke of being a "slave to Christ". The author(Michael Card) says it so much better than I, so I'm going to quote him:
ReplyDelete"Jesus was using slave words when He said 'Take up your cross & follow me' for crucifixion was a slave's death...He was saying to let go of all your expectations, of the illusion that you 'possess rights'. Abandon the myth of freedom the world offers & find a better freedom ( through being sold out as a slave to Christ). They are parallels; the cross & the yoke of slavery - Jesus bids us pick them both up."
Father,empower me to make the choice daily to embrace the paradoxical freedom that being your slave means.