Deny

“And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.” (Luke 9:23)

The word “deny” here is the same word used when Jesus foretold what Peter would do to Him.

“Jesus said to him, “Truly, I tell you, this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” (Matthew 26:34)

Think about that. We are to deny our self with the same intensity and purpose as Peter did Christ.

“…and take up his cross daily”-The cross is our religion. That’s the easy part. The hard part is what comes next.

“…and follow me.” It can be difficult to follow Christ. Jesus is the way, but how easily do we get wrapped up in our religion and lose sight of and direction with, Christ?

We are to “abjure” or solemnly renounce our self, our carnal, sinful self. We are to take up our Christian religion (fellowship, doctrine, and principles) and be like Jesus Christ.

Religion and being like Christ can be two separate things, even polar opposites.

Our religion, like the cross, exposes us to the world. The world will try to use our religion to crucify us, through belittlement, condemnation, polarization and doubt. But if we just keep our eyes on the prize and follow the truth of Jesus Christ, then it won’t matter how far the storm knocks us off course, we will always be able to find our way back home in Him.

Bill Hitchcock