In Luke 9:23, Jesus says, “If anyone decides to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.” There are three words here that I want to call special attention to; they are “deny”, “cross”, and “daily”. In the language Jesus spoke, to deny is to utterly deny, disown, and abstain. Abstain from what? Those selfish, fleshly desires and activities that are at war with the Spirit, and to doing God’s will. 1 Peter 2:11 says it like this, “Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts that war against the soul.” Our next word, “cross”, specifically refers to “a pole or cross (as an instrument of capitol punishment); figuratively exposure to death, that is, self denial” (Strong’s dictionary). Finally, the third word is “daily”, which indicates a continuous putting down of our natural self-centeredness – a progressive renouncing of self-interests and fleshly ways that are twisted, distorted, and self centered, owing to the fall. By following our fallen instincts we loose the greatest benefits of life; but if we cast them off we gain so much more than they could ever offer. With this in mind, let’s look at Romans 12:1, where the Scripture beseeches (urges, yes begs,) us to “present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God …” By choosing to follow Him, and presenting ourselves, holy and acceptable to Him, we place our-self in a position to produce quality service that 1 Corinthians 3:12 classifies as “gold, silver, precious stones” (gems), for which we will be rewarded, with rewards not only in this life, but lasting for all eternity (in contrast to those whose works of “wood, hay, straw,” that will be burned), verses 13-15.
Can God Trust You?
-by Rose Hill
Can God trust you with the blessing that you’ve been praying for?
If you prove you have been faithful He will surely give you more.
But if when things are going well you always from Him stray,
And all your deeds for Him are nothing more than just some hay.
Then He will wait until you learn to cast the world aside,
And close to His most precious word you always will abide.
When all your works someday become as silver and as gold,
With your life sold out to Him nothing for yourself you hold.
Then He will surely give you blessings and many, many more,
Than you ever dreamed that you could have more than you’ve been asking for.