Take Up Your Cross
READ
Today’s words from Jesus might be some of the most challenging in all of Scripture, but they're also among the most transformative. Jesus isn't describing a one-time decision; He's outlining a daily training regimen for disciples.
Let’s take a moment to read Luke 9:23-24:
Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. or whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it.”
REFLECT
Discipleship isn't something we accomplish once and then move on from. It's a daily choice, a daily practice, a daily surrender. Just as athletes don't become champions through a single workout, we don't become mature disciples through a single moment of commitment. It's the daily repetition that shapes us.
When Jesus says we must "deny ourselves," He's not asking us to hate who we are or to live joyless lives. Instead, He's inviting us to deny the parts of ourselves that resist God's love and purposes. It's about saying no to our selfish impulses, our need to be right, our desire to control outcomes, and our tendency to put ourselves at the center of everything.
The image of taking up our cross would have been shocking to Jesus' original audience. Crucifixion was the most shameful and painful form of execution in the Roman world. But Jesus transforms this symbol of death into an invitation to life. When we take up our cross daily, we're choosing to die to our old way of living so that Christ's life can flourish in us.
This is where discipleship moves from theory to practice. The training ground isn't a monastery or a seminary; it's our daily life – our homes, workplaces, schools, and neighborhoods. Every interaction becomes an opportunity to practice Christ-like love. Every challenge becomes a chance to trust God's faithfulness. Every mundane moment becomes a space where we can choose Jesus' way over our natural instincts.
This daily training involves the meta-practice of participation. We don't just learn about Jesus; we participate in His mission. We don't just study love; we practice loving difficult people. We don't just read about forgiveness; we forgive those who hurt us. We don't just hear about serving; we look for ways to serve others, especially those who can't repay us.
The cross we're called to carry isn't necessarily dramatic suffering. More often, it's the daily choice to put others first, to speak truth in love even when it's uncomfortable, to forgive when we'd rather hold grudges, and to serve when we'd rather be served. It's choosing God's will over our own preferences, again and again.
But here's the beautiful paradox: as we deny ourselves and take up our cross, we don't lose ourselves – we find ourselves. We discover who God created us to be. We experience the joy that comes from living in alignment with His purposes. We find that Jesus' way of life brings freedom, not bondage.
This daily training also requires the meta-practice of reflection. At the end of each day, we can ask: How did I follow Jesus today? Where did I choose my way instead of His? What is He teaching me through today's experiences? This reflection helps us grow in self-awareness and dependence on God's grace.
The goal isn't perfection but progress. Each day offers a fresh start, new opportunities to practice discipleship, and continued growth in becoming more like Jesus. The training ground of daily life is where our identity as disciples is forged and refined.
RESPOND
Take a moment to process what God might be leading you to do in light of what you read.
What does "denying yourself" look like in your specific circumstances and relationships?
How can you view today's challenges as opportunities for discipleship training rather than obstacles to avoid?
What daily practices help you remember to "take up your cross" and follow Jesus?
REST
Take a moment to rest in God’s presence and consider one thing you can take away from your time reading, then close your devotional experience by praying:
Lord, help me embrace each day as a training ground for discipleship. Give me the courage to deny myself when my desires conflict with Your will. Strengthen me to take up my cross daily, knowing that Your way leads to true life. Transform my ordinary moments into opportunities to practice Your love and grow in Your likeness. Amen.