February 21, 2025 Morning Devotional
Morning Devotion: Read Luke - Take Up Your Cross and Follow Me
Luke 9:23 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. 24 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it. 25 For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away? 26 For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father's, and of the holy angels. 27 But I tell you of a truth, there be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the kingdom of God.
Such powerful words! To take up one cross and follow Jesus is easier said than done. Many will say I and saved or I am Christian but, how may will take it to the point of taking up the same type of cross as Jesus?
I believe Paul and the disciples did take up the same cross. Jesus asked them of their willingness to do so but, used the illustration of a cup.
Matthew 20:22 But Jesus answered and said, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? They say unto him, We are able. 23 And he saith unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with:…
When Jesus spoke of the cross and the cup He spoke of complete surrender, a complete giving over to Jesus. It is choosing the life of Jesus over ones personal life. It means never being ashamed of Christ.
Paul said this: Philippians 3:8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,
Paul further explains the idea of taking up the cross in a more poignant way.
Philippians 3:10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;
Luke 9:26 For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father's, and of the holy angels.
Romans 10:11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
(I often wonder how many people are ashamed of Christ and use the excuse, I don’t want to offend anyone, or I don’t want to bother anyone, etc; when really they are ashamed of the Christ who saved them and don’t want to be embarrassed by that fact?
When one identifies with the cross of Christ, it isn’t just hanging a cross around your neck in jewelry, or putting a bible on your the dashboard of your car, it is allowing yourself to be vulnerable in open display of your love for Jesus. Most people are in self protection mode rather than open love for Jesus mode.
My friend, the first step to really knowing Jesus is to realize your need to be saved. It means you, deep inside, know you cannot save yourself and upon that realization you cast yourself upon the mercy of God trusting Jesus to save you.
Then, and only then, taking up the cross is a matter of walking with the Lord as the Lord walked, it is accepting the knowledge of Christ and His word over all else.
Like Paul, Christians pray this for those who are saved. Ephesians 3:14 For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, 16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; 17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; 19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.
Are you willing to take up your cross and follow Jesus?
The choice is still yours,
Pastor Cook
