When Jesus said to deny ourselves, to daily take up our crosses, and to follow Him, it wasn’t a suggestion, but a command.
If any man wishes to live for Christ, he’s going to have to lay down his own selfish ways, plans, ideas, and desires and take hold of what God wills for him. He’s going to have to humble himself, acknowledging his sins and actively live out a lifestyle of repentance. He’s going to have to die to himself every single day, surrendering each day to Jesus by crucifying/rejecting his own flesh. He’s going to have to follow Jesus wherever the Holy Spirit would lead him. He’s going to have to walk the strait and narrow faithfully, turning not to the left or to the right, keeping God’s Word in his heart (because it is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path [Psalms 119:105]). He’s going to have to put Jesus first in his home, in his life, and in his heart.
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.
How can we deny ourselves, take up our crosses every single day, and follow Jesus? Galatians 5:16-26, by walking in the Spirit. When we walk in the Spirit, we’re not gonna fulfill the lusts/deeds of the flesh. Not to say that we will be sinless and never give in to temptation, but our flesh will no longer have the dominion or rule over us. Saying no to and resisting the temptation to sin becomes a lot more easier as we produce and exercise our faith through self-control and discipline in Jesus Christ.
