Hang on or let go?

“If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it.”
‭‭Luke‬ ‭9‬:‭24‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Why is the Lord wanting me to give up today? The right to an opinion? The right to honour? The right to place?

Jesus was the firstborn to Mary and Joseph, however His siblings rejected His claim that He was the Messiah, in fact most of His home town did. They were so offended they wanted to throw Him off a cliff.

Now, that is rejection! Jesus promised that we, His disciples, would be rejected by family, some given up to death by family. We see this a lot in the Muslim world and somewhat in the Hindu world.

Around the above passage Jesus was teaching His disciples that they must take up their cross daily and follow Him. A person who is about to be crucified had the cross beam placed on their shoulders to carry. It was not voluntary, but rather compulsory.

The people to whom Jesus spoke understood the cross. They knew the shame associated with the cross. To be told to willingly take it up would have challenged their sensibilities.

Today, I must take up the cross. I know what my cross is. It is rejection, judgement and dishonour. I can trust the Lord with this. He is faithful and true. He will work in me for His good pleasure. Amen!

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