Luke 9:23-24
Then he said to them all, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take us their cross daily and follow me. . .” Luke 9:23-24 (NRSV)
Then Jesus told his disciples what they could expect for themselves: “Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You’re not in the driver’s seat – I am. Don’t run from suffering, embrace it. Follow me and I’ll show you how. Self-help is no help at all. Self-sacrifice is the way, my way, to finding yourself, your true self. What good would it do to get everything you want and lose you, the real you?” Luke 9:23-24 (MSG)
Someone recently wrote in their blog: “Are you a Jesus worshiper or a Jesus follower?” And that made me think. . . It’s easy for me to worship the God I know in Jesus and claim his message of compassion and love but what am I doing that shows that I am actually following him in the dailiness of my life’s situations?
How easy it is to just “go with the flow” and not question whether or not I should be doing something different with my day, my week, my life. . . How often do I miss the gentle nudgings that I should be doing something other than what I am doing.
From the very beginning God’s call has never been to an easy life, to comfort, or to safety. Abraham and Sarah went out into the unknown with no idea where God would lead them. Moses, the prophets, other folks (Ruth, Esther), the disciples, the list is a long one… all are examples of what it means to heed God’s call, to follow Jesus. That is, they each “took up their cross and denied themselves” and lived out the life God called them to do; and it wasn’t always easy or comfortable.
When Jesus took up his cross he said to his Father, “not my will but yours be done.” He had lived his life Spirit-directed when he taught, when he healed, whenever he related to his disciples, the crowds, and to anyone he met. Every time it was a risk because eventually the religious leaders and others not only questioned him but turned against him, failing to recognize the Holy Spirit in him.
So when we ask what it means to take our cross, to deny ourselves, do we realize we are also asking “what do I need to do to risk safety, security, comfort?” even in the seemingly little choices we make each day?
Questions for Reflection:
- Have you ever felt a nudging to do something that you wished later you had done? Would it have been something Jesus wanted you to do? How would your life have been changed?
- When have you followed through with a nudging to help someone, to speak out for or against something and no matter what happened you felt you did the right thing?
- What often prevents you from following through with that nudging? Is it fear of rejection, is it moving out of your comfort zone, or something else?
- In each instance what would it have meant to “deny yourself”?
Prayer:
Merciful and forgiving God, thank you that you have given us an example in Jesus of what it means to “deny ourselves” and to know what the cross really means in our daily lives. Give us the courage and wisdom to know when to follow a nudging to do something that would help another person or to speak out for or against something because that is the right thing to do. Too often we remain in the driver’s seat of our lives instead of following your Spirit’s call. Forgive us. Renew in us a right spirit to do Your will. In Jesus’ name Amen
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