Luke 9:23 "Then he said to them all, 'If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me."
In other words, Jesus is saying if we want to follow him we have to take up his cross every day. Now, I don't think he meant that literally. Jesus was insulted, mocked, and physically beaten when he was crucified. Jesus is saying that if we want to follow him, we will be insulted, we will be mocked, we may even be physically beaten, tortured, or killed. This brings me to
2 Corinthians 4:17 "For our affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory"
Whatever man may due to us here on Earth, while it may not seem like it at the moment, will be light and momentary compared to the eternal joy and glory which we will receive when we arrive at heaven! This leads right in to my favorite scripture in the Bible
Revelation 3:21"'To Him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne."
One thing I noticed as I read both Luke 9:23 and Revelation 3:21, is Jesus isn't asking us to do anything he hasn't already done! H'es already taken up his cross, and has already overcome! If Jesus did these things, then we can too! He told us we can!
John 14:12 "'Most assuredly I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father."
Think about it! All that Jesus did, He did in only three years! Imagine how much more we could do with all the time we have if only we weren't afraid of man!
Wow this is good.
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