Dead Man Walking

²³ Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me."  Luke 9:23

Scholars say that although no one can be sure, the crossbeam of the cross that Jesus carried could have weighed anywhere from 75-125lbs.  With the whole cross weighing approximately 300 lbs.  Regardless of whether you believe he carried the crossbeam alone or carried the whole cross that day, it was an astonishing feat.  The portrayal in movies is quite gruesome.  In fact, its is very hard to watch anyone take such a beating.  If that was not enough there was the crown of thorns, plucking of his beard, and the humiliation that he endured by the very people he was about to die for.  He took up his cross that day and started the journey.

What did Jesus mean when he said to take up your cross daily?  I believe we can look at it several ways.  Today, I want to deal with our daily walk and the battle we face within ourselves. 

There is a battle that takes place everyday within each one of us.  The flesh man versus the spirit man.  It has been said that if you put two men in a cage to fight, the one that you have fed the most will win.  If we feed our flesh, the flesh will win.  But, if we concentrate on things that are holy and fast, pray, and read the Bible, then it will be a "no contest" match.  The spirit man will prevail every time.

We are bombarded on a daily basis with sin.  Around every turn there seems to be a temptation for believers to test their lifestyle of holiness.  I believe that is where the cross comes in.  When we wake up in the morning we have to make a decision.  We decide right then how the rest of our day is going to go.  There are certainly situations that may arise that we have no control over, but you can control how you respond!  We make a stand in that moment and say, "Lord, I am taking up my cross right now.  I choose you.  I choose life, healing, blessing, power, strength, and faith!!!  It does not matter what the enemy puts in my path.  I will deny myself today and endure just to follow you."

What a concept!!  What if we took the word and actually applied it to our life?  I do not know about you but I want to be a disciple of Christ.  I am at a point in my life that it does not matter what the price is.  I want to follow him.  The things of this world are precisely that....just things!  I am going to make a conscious effort to deny myself every single day.  I want to grow closer to Jesus.  I want the favor of God on my life.  I am going to take up my cross daily.  Will you join me?!?!?  It will be worth it I assure you!