And He was saying to them all, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake, he is the one who will save it. For what is a man profited if he gains the whole world, and loses or forfeits himself?” Luke 9:23-25
Thwarting sin can be grueling. A door can be opened. A door to your heart you never thought could be accessible. Circumstances and trials can break the locks to expose a weakness you never thought was there. You’re trying hard to grab the handle and slam it shut, yet there’s something of wordly profit that your heart thinks it will gain by giving access. It’s a deception. It’s a delusion. It’s the cross a disciple has to bear.
Deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow after Jesus. You may not understand exactly why your heart is being tempted in this way, but there is help with Jesus and His people who can support you and remind you of what it takes to lose your life. Your heart is longing for something. You need to recognize that. However, you determine to do whatever it takes to deny satisfying this longing to save not only your soul, but others as well. Even if no lines have been crossed nor sin committed, you still can not even allow yourself to flirt with the line. It’s too risky, and it’s not an acceptable practice of someone who forfeits theirself to follow after Jesus.
We could spend our days trying to gain the whole world by fulfilling our lusts or we can forsake it daily and allow Jesus to save us. In rememberance of the cross that Jesus carried while so weak, let’s resolve to abandon our worldly gains and carry our burdens with Him by our side. For His sake we seize and bolt the door to our heart, forfeiting our being to bear the cross that will profit everything the world cannot offer.
Prayer:
Merciful God, You are so gracious to give me what I need to deny myself, take up my cross, and follow after Jesus. Sometimes this burden feels like it is more than I can bear, but when I place my focus on the cross that Jesus bore while so weak, I gain perspective on what it means to lose my life so Jesus can save it. I do not want the world to be my profit. I want Christ to give me my gain. Forgive me where I am weak and have forsaken the cross. I resolve to put it on my shoulders daily, taking each step in confidence that Jesus is right by my side. Thank you for the people that support me and give godly wisdom along the way. I am reminded of all these things as I partake of His supper today. Amen.
Truth in love,
Heather
Truth in Love 