DENY HIMSELF AND TAKE UP HIS CROSS

AUGUST 25 - START YOUR DAY RIGHT DEVOTION 

Mark 8:34 
Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 

DENY HIMSELF AND TAKE UP HIS CROSS

To deny self means to put aside our own selfish desires in order to follow Christ and serve His purposes, whatever the cost. The cross of Christ is a symbol of suffering (1 Peter 2:21; 4:13), death (Acts 10:39), shame (Hebrews 12:2), ridicule (Matthew 27:39), rejection (1 Peter 2:4) and self-denial (Matthew 16:24). A follower of Christ who takes up his or her cross is making a deliberate choice to deny his or her own selfish interest and way of life (Luke 14:26-27) and to boldly identify with Christ. That person’s own identity gets so connected with that of Jesus that the person’s own reputation cannot be separated from his or her relationship with Christ. This kind of identification with Christ Jesus requires a commitment in four areas of struggle and suffering for the sake of Christ:

1. We struggle in a lifelong battle against sin (Romans 6; 1 Peter 4:1-2) and must willingly endure suffering by crucifying (putting to death, not feeding, becoming unresponsive to) our own sinful desires (Romans 6; 8:13; Galatians 2:20; 6:14; Titus 2:12; 1 Peter 2:11, 21-24).
2. We struggle in a war against Satan and the demonic powers of evil and must be willing to suffer rejection and hardship in order to promote Christ’s purpose on earth (2 Corinthians 10:4-5; 6:7; Ephesians 6:12). In the process, we will experience spiritual opposition and hostility (2 Corinthians 6:3-7; 11:23-29; 1 Peter 5:8-10), and we will face the resistance and persecution as we stand against false teachers who corrupt the true message of Christ (Matthew 23:1-36; Galatians 1:9; Philippians 1:15-17).  
3. We suffer hatred and ridicule from the world (John 15:18-25; Hebrews 11:25-26) because of our devotion to Christ and His standards of truth and right (1 Corinthians 1:21-27). People will strongly oppose us because our example and testimony – which must be conveyed with love and humility – expose the evil of their beliefs, behaviors, and lifestyles (John 7:7)

​​BIBLE STUDY TOOLS I USE:

• NIV Bible 
• KJV, Personal Size Reference Bible
• Map Pencils
• College Ruled Spiral Notebook
• R.S.V.P. Ballpoint Pen

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​Some of our post that might interest you:

1. THANKSGIVING AT MEALTIMES 
2. COME, FOLLOW ME 
3. TSF BIBLE STUDIES​

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