Deny Yourself Take Up Your Cross

[Cloud 0]

i have to be clear on something.


when Jesus said that, did He mean that we(I) aren't allowed to do ANYthing that's not exclusively Gospel related?


i must admit...i do ALOT of non-spiritual things like watch movies, play videogames, etc....


am i ONLY ALLOWED to watch Biblical movies and listen to Christian music?


was that the goal when Jesus said that?

[Dove-Solutions 0]

~Cloud,

I found this and it gives a great example of what Jesus means by "Picking up our cross and following Him".

Let’s begin with what Jesus didn’t mean. Many people interpret “cross” as some burden they must carry in their lives: a strained relationship, a thankless job, a physical illness. With self-pitying pride, they say, “That’s my cross I have to carry.” Such an interpretation is not what Jesus meant when He said, “Take up your cross and follow Me.”

When Jesus carried His cross up Golgotha to be crucified, no one was thinking of the cross as symbolic of a burden to carry. To a person in the first-century, the cross meant one thing and one thing only: death by the most painful and humiliating means human beings could develop.

Two thousand years later, Christians view the cross as a cherished symbol of atonement, forgiveness, grace, and love. But in Jesus’ day, the cross represented nothing but torturous death. Because the Romans forced convicted criminals to carry their own crosses to the place of crucifixion, bearing a cross meant carrying their own execution device while facing ridicule along the way to death.

Therefore, “Take up your cross and follow Me” means being willing to die in order to follow Jesus. This is called “dying to self.” It’s a call to absolute surrender. After each time Jesus commanded cross bearing, He said, “For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self?” (Luke 9:24-25). Although the call is tough, the reward is matchless.

Wherever Jesus went, He drew crowds. Although these multitudes often followed Him as Messiah, their view of who the Messiah really was—and what He would do—was distorted. They thought the Christ would usher in the restored kingdom. They believed He would free them from the oppressive rule of their Roman occupiers. Even Christ’s own inner circle of disciples thought the kingdom was coming soon (Luke 19:11). When Jesus began teaching that He was going to die at the hands of the Jewish leaders and their Gentile overlords (Luke 9:22), His popularity sank. Many of the shocked followers rejected Him. Truly, they were not able to put to death their own ideas, plans, and desires, and exchange them for His.

Following Jesus is easy when life runs smoothly; our true commitment to Him is revealed during trials. Jesus assured us that trials will come to His followers (John 16:33). Discipleship demands sacrifice, and Jesus never hid that cost.

In Luke 9:57-62, three people seemed willing to follow Jesus. When Jesus questioned them further, their commitment was half-hearted at best. They failed to count the cost of following Him. None was willing to take up his cross and crucify upon it his own interests.

Therefore, Jesus appeared to dissuade them. How different from the typical Gospel presentation! How many people would respond to an altar call that went, “Come follow Jesus, and you may face the loss of friends, family, reputation, career, and possibly even your life”? The number of false converts would likely decrease! Such a call is what Jesus meant when He said, “Take up your cross and follow Me.”

If you wonder if you are ready to take up your cross, consider these questions:
• Are you willing to follow Jesus if it means losing some of your closest friends?
• Are you willing to follow Jesus if it means alienation from your family?
• Are you willing to follow Jesus if it means the loss of your reputation?
• Are you willing to follow Jesus if it means losing your job?
• Are you willing to follow Jesus if it means losing your life?

In some places of the world, these consequences are reality. But notice the questions are phrased, “Are you willing?” Following Jesus doesn’t necessarily mean all these things will happen to you, but are you willing take up your cross? If there comes a point in your life where you are faced with a choice—Jesus or the comforts of this life—which will you choose?

Commitment to Christ means taking up your cross daily, giving up your hopes, dreams, possessions, even your very life if need be for the cause of Christ. Only if you willingly take up your cross may you be called His disciple (Luke 14:27). The reward is worth the price. Jesus followed His call of death to self (“Take up your cross and follow Me”) with the gift of life in Christ: “For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it” (Matthew 16:25-26).

I pray this helps you to understand.

Love in Jesus,

Connie

[Cloud 0]

Dove Solutions, I ALREADY have an understanding of that.


Am I WILLING? Yes.


I've already "lost" much anyway...


I'm unemployed, I have NO friends, and my dad badgers me daily.


What I am trying to figure out is WHAT is God's PERSONAL solution to that?


At the very least...what is God's solution to me being BORED and under my dad's Authority still?

[Cholette 0]

Being bored is a choice Cloud. The Word of GOd says that your life is hidden in Christ. If you want a life, you MUST go to Christ and get it. It's not going to appear, but your passion, your drive and everything else, must be centered around Christ.

ALL of your questions on this site is HOW TO or WHAT IS...the answer is JESUS CHRIST. No one can give you an answer outside of HIM. If you want God's PERSONAL solution, you HAVE TO go to God and get it. Your answers don't come from a message board, especially since you have asked the questions and have not found what you are looking for. God is your SOURCE...not man!

We love you here on this site and we want God's very best for your life, however I just want to say to you...seek first THE KINGDOM OF GOD and HIS righteousness and all the things you need will be added to you.

Blessings

[Cloud 0]

I realize that I must do SOMETHING FOR GOD.


Why do you think I'm trying to go to a Christian College?


Why do you think I want to get more involved with Church stuff?


I'm just worried that I'm WRONG about these things and that God's actual will for me is to just go out and get some random job that I hate!


I've ALREADY had enough of those in my opinion.

[Cholette 0]

You are still trying to find your answers from man. My point is...sit before the Lord and let HIM give you the answers that you need. You've asked the same questions, plenty of times and you have had some awesome responses, however it seems that you still have the same questions.

How I make decisions, when I'm at certain crossroads in my life is...I follow peace. I get quiet and weigh out the best possible decision and if I feel peace, then I step out. God doesn't ALWAYS speak in a voice to say "yes, go this way or that way"...He leads us with our "inner compass", which is the Holy Spirit. Going to anyone else besides him, is building an idol.