The Call to Follow
07/16/2025
“Then he said to them all: ‘Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it.’”
— Luke 9:23–24 (NIV)
Following Jesus isn’t a casual commitment, it’s a call to die daily.
When Jesus spoke these words, His listeners would have known exactly what He meant. In Roman-occupied Israel, to “take up your cross” wasn’t a metaphorical challenge, it was a death sentence. Those carrying crosses were on their way to execution. So when Jesus told His followers to deny themselves and take up their cross, He was inviting them into a life of total surrender. Not just once, but every single day.
This isn’t the kind of message that fills stadiums or racks up social media likes. But it is the kind of truth that transforms hearts and changes the world.
Denying ourselves means saying no to our pride, comfort, control, and even our dreams when they conflict with God’s will. It means letting go of the illusion that we are in charge and entrusting our lives, our ambitions, our relationships, and our reputations to the One who gave everything for us.
I think of Jim Elliot, the missionary who famously said, “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.” Jim lost his life on the mission field in Ecuador, but his story led countless others to take up their crosses and follow Jesus with the same boldness and surrender. His life was not wasted, it was multiplied.
And Jesus says something even more radical: if we try to save our lives just to cling to comfort, security, and control, we will lose the very thing we’re trying to preserve. But if we lose our lives for His sake, if we surrender fully, we’ll actually discover what real life looks like. That’s the upside-down way of the Kingdom.
Here are some things to help you on your journey.
Begin your morning with a prayer of surrender: “Lord, I lay down my agenda today, lead me.”
Choose to serve someone today rather than serve yourself. Maybe it’s doing a task no one sees or giving your time when it’s inconvenient.
When tempted to react in pride, choose humility instead, let it be your cross today.
My challenge for you is this:
Ask yourself: What is one area of my life that I’ve been holding onto too tightly? Then, loosen your grip. Deny yourself. Take up your cross. And follow the One who laid down everything to lead you into life.
Lord Jesus, You didn’t call us to an easy life, but You did call us to an eternal one. Give us the courage to deny ourselves, the strength to carry our crosses daily, and the faith to follow You wherever You lead. Teach us that surrender isn’t loss, but gain, and that true life begins when we give our lives to You. We trust You, even when the road is hard. Help us to follow You well today.
Amen.
Pastor Jeff
#LoveGod #LovePeople #FindFreedom #FindYourDesign
“Then he said to them all: ‘Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it.’”
— Luke 9:23–24 (NIV)
Following Jesus isn’t a casual commitment, it’s a call to die daily.
When Jesus spoke these words, His listeners would have known exactly what He meant. In Roman-occupied Israel, to “take up your cross” wasn’t a metaphorical challenge, it was a death sentence. Those carrying crosses were on their way to execution. So when Jesus told His followers to deny themselves and take up their cross, He was inviting them into a life of total surrender. Not just once, but every single day.
This isn’t the kind of message that fills stadiums or racks up social media likes. But it is the kind of truth that transforms hearts and changes the world.
Denying ourselves means saying no to our pride, comfort, control, and even our dreams when they conflict with God’s will. It means letting go of the illusion that we are in charge and entrusting our lives, our ambitions, our relationships, and our reputations to the One who gave everything for us.
I think of Jim Elliot, the missionary who famously said, “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.” Jim lost his life on the mission field in Ecuador, but his story led countless others to take up their crosses and follow Jesus with the same boldness and surrender. His life was not wasted, it was multiplied.
And Jesus says something even more radical: if we try to save our lives just to cling to comfort, security, and control, we will lose the very thing we’re trying to preserve. But if we lose our lives for His sake, if we surrender fully, we’ll actually discover what real life looks like. That’s the upside-down way of the Kingdom.
Here are some things to help you on your journey.
Begin your morning with a prayer of surrender: “Lord, I lay down my agenda today, lead me.”
Choose to serve someone today rather than serve yourself. Maybe it’s doing a task no one sees or giving your time when it’s inconvenient.
When tempted to react in pride, choose humility instead, let it be your cross today.
My challenge for you is this:
Ask yourself: What is one area of my life that I’ve been holding onto too tightly? Then, loosen your grip. Deny yourself. Take up your cross. And follow the One who laid down everything to lead you into life.
Lord Jesus, You didn’t call us to an easy life, but You did call us to an eternal one. Give us the courage to deny ourselves, the strength to carry our crosses daily, and the faith to follow You wherever You lead. Teach us that surrender isn’t loss, but gain, and that true life begins when we give our lives to You. We trust You, even when the road is hard. Help us to follow You well today.
Amen.
Pastor Jeff
#LoveGod #LovePeople #FindFreedom #FindYourDesign
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