““And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.”

Matthew 10:38

“Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me.”

Matthew 16:24

“And He summoned the crowd with His disciples, and said to them, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me.”

Mark 8:34

In short to take up your cross and follow Christ means to die to self and your own desires. It means to abandon a life of sin and rebellion against God for a life that is for His glory and service. Dying to self is surrender to the will of God.

Are you ready to take up your cross and follow Jesus? Consider these questions:

1. Are you willing to follow Jesus if it means losing your closest friends?

2. Are you willing to follow Jesus if it means alienation from your family?

3. Are you willing to follow Jesus if it means losing your reputation?

4. Are you willing to follow Jesus if it means losing your job?

5. Are you willing to follow Jesus if it means losing your life?

In some places of the world, these consequences are a reality. But notice the phrasing of the questions: “Are you willing?” Following Jesus doesn’t necessarily mean all these things will happen to you, but the disciple of Christ must be willing to suffer loss. Are you willing to take up your cross? If 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, and 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. Remember that, as Jesus called His disciples to “take up your cross and follow Me,” He, too, bore a cross. Our Lord led the way.