Taking Up Your Cross and Denying Yourself: A Call to Radical Discipleship

In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus issues a profound call to all who would follow Him: “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me” (Matthew 16:24, KJV). This invitation to discipleship is not one of comfort or convenience but of sacrifice and surrender. It is evident from Scripture that being a Christian and having the indwelling of the Holy Spirit transforms our hearts and aligns our desires with God’s will. The apostle Paul affirms this truth in Philippians 2:13 (KJV), stating, “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” Through the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit, believers are empowered to desire what God desires and to live in accordance with His will. As we yield to the leading of the Spirit and the process of sanctification, our hearts will be renewed, our minds will transformed, and our desires will be shaped by God’s purposes and plans. Taking up our cross and denying ourselves is intricately connected to the transformation that occurs when we become Christians and receive the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, we are empowered to crucify the flesh and live a life of self-denial, sacrificial love, and obedience to God’s will. Thus, taking up our cross and denying ourselves is not merely an act of willpower or self-discipline but a natural outworking of the Spirit’s transforming work within us, as we are conformed more and more into the image of Christ.

Denying Self

Jesus begins His call to discipleship with the command to deny oneself. This entails renouncing self-centeredness, selfish ambition, and personal desires in order to submit to the will of God. In Luke 9:23 (KJV), Jesus says, “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.” Denying oneself involves surrendering our own plans, preferences, and priorities to God, acknowledging His lordship over our lives.

Taking Up Your Cross

Taking up one’s cross is a symbol of identification with Christ and His suffering. In the Roman world, the cross was an instrument of execution, signifying shame, suffering, and sacrifice. By taking up our cross, we embrace the path of self-denial, sacrifice, and obedience to God’s will, even if it leads to hardship or persecution. As Jesus Himself demonstrated on the road to Calvary, taking up the cross requires courage, endurance, and unwavering faithfulness to God’s purposes.

Following Christ

The call to take up our cross and deny ourselves is ultimately a call to follow Christ wholeheartedly. In John 12:26 (KJV), Jesus declares, “If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.” Following Christ means walking in His footsteps, imitating His example, and embracing His mission of love, redemption, and reconciliation. It is a journey of obedience, discipleship, and intimacy with the Savior. In Matthew 7:21 (KJV), Jesus says, Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

Counting the Cost

Taking up our cross and denying ourselves requires counting the cost of discipleship. In Luke 14:27-28 (KJV), Jesus says, “And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple. For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?” Discipleship entails sacrifices and challenges, but the rewards far outweigh the costs. It is a decision that requires careful consideration and unwavering commitment to follow Christ wholeheartedly.

The Way of Life

Taking up our cross and denying ourselves is not a one-time event but a daily commitment to live in obedience and surrender to God. In Galatians 2:20 (KJV), the apostle Paul writes, “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” It is a lifestyle characterized by humility, selflessness, and dependence on God’s grace and power.

The call to take up our cross and deny ourselves is a call to radical discipleship, requiring total surrender and obedience to Christ. It is a call to die to self and live for Christ, embracing His will, His way, and His mission with unwavering devotion and faithfulness. We can’t have one foot in and one foot out, it will never work. As we heed this call, may we experience the abundant life and eternal rewards that come from following Christ wholeheartedly, counting all things as loss for the surpassing worth of knowing Him. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ, Philippians 3:8.