Tag: Follow Jesus

Take Up Your Cross

Posted on by jakirkgasser10439

What Does It Mean to Pick Up Your Cross? Learn from Jesus

Why Jesus Calls Us to the Cross

Jesus did not invite people into comfort, self-fulfillment, or religious status. He invited them into life—and He made clear that the path to that life runs through the cross. The call to “pick up your cross” is not metaphorical decoration; it is a defining mark of discipleship.
Understanding what Jesus meant by this call—and how He lived it Himself—transforms how we interpret suffering, obedience, and what it means to follow Him faithfully.

“If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.”  Matthew 16:24

What Is Sacrificial Suffering?

Sacrificial suffering is the willing acceptance of loss, pain, or disadvantage in obedience to God and for the good of others. It is not suffering for suffering’s sake, nor is it the result of foolishness or wrongdoing. It is faithfulness chosen when obedience costs something real.
Jesus’ call to the cross teaches us that Kingdom life is built on trust in God rather than self-preservation.

Picking up your cross rarely looks dramatic. More often, it looks like forgiving when you would rather withdraw, holding to the truth when it costs you, remaining faithful when obedience feels unrewarded, and trusting God when outcomes are uncertain. It looks like serving without recognition, loving those who misunderstand you, refusing compromise when it would make life easier, and continuing to follow Jesus when comfort or pleasure would suggest another path. These quiet acts of faithfulness are the everyday shape of sacrificial suffering in the Kingdom of God.

Relational and Emotional Examples

    • Choosing forgiveness when you have every justification to withhold it
    • Loving someone who misunderstands, misrepresents, or rejects you
    • Remaining faithful in a marriage or relationship when it requires patience, humility, and restraint
    • Absorbing offense rather than escalating conflict
    • Speaking truth in love when silence would be safer

Integrity and Obedience Examples

    • Refusing dishonest gain even when it costs you financially or professionally
    • Telling the truth when it risks damage to your reputation or advancement
    • Obeying God privately when no one else will know or applaud
    • Saying no to temptation when indulging would bring immediate relief or pleasure

Trust and Surrender Examples

    • Letting go of control over outcomes, timing, or recognition
    • Staying obedient when obedience leads to inconvenience or loss
    • Continuing to trust God when prayers are unanswered or delayed
    • Choosing faithfulness when circumstances feel unfair

Service and Love Examples

    • Serving others without expectation of recognition or return
    • Giving time, energy, or resources when you feel stretched thin
    • Caring for someone in weakness, sickness, or need over a long period
    • Putting another person’s good ahead of personal comfort

Mission and Calling Examples

    • Answering God’s call when it disrupts your plans or security
    • Remaining faithful to your calling when results are slow or unseen
    • Standing for truth in a culture that pressures compromise

Why Picking Up Your Cross Matters

The cross reveals how different God’s Kingdom is from the world’s systems.

    • The world seeks and rewards comfort, control, recognition, and safety.
    • The Kingdom advances through humility, surrender, obedience, and love.

“For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.” Matthew 16:25

Jesus Showed Us What Picking Up the Cross Looks Like

For Jesus, “picking up the cross” was not a single moment at Calvary. It was a lifelong posture of trust, surrender, obedience, and love, expressed in many forms of sacrificial suffering. Together, these reveal what cross-bearing truly looks like.

1. He Left Glory Willingly

Jesus’ suffering began before pain or rejection—it began with humility. He willingly laid aside the privileges of divine glory to enter human limitation. This was not loss imposed on Him; it was loss chosen for love.

“Who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant.” – Philippians 2:6–7

“In The Beginning Was The Word,… and the Word was God.” – John 1:1

“The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” – John 1:14

2. He Became Fully Human and Embraced Weakness

Jesus entered the full vulnerability of human life—hunger, fatigue, grief, dependence. He did not shield Himself from weakness; He embraced it so He could redeem it.

“For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses.” – Hebrews 4:15

“Jesus therefore, being wearied from His journey, sat thus by the well.” – John 4:6

3. He Lived in Poverty and Obscurity

Jesus accepted a life without wealth, status, or security. He trusted the Father daily for provision rather than building earthly safety nets.

“The Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.” – Matthew 8:20

“Though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor.” – 2 Corinthians 8:9

4. He Endured Temptation Without Sin

Jesus faced real temptation—pressure to satisfy Himself, seize power, and avoid suffering. Picking up the cross meant resisting shortcuts and trusting God’s way.

“Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted.” – Matthew 4:1

“He was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.” – Hebrews 4:15

5. He Was Misunderstood and Rejected

Jesus was repeatedly misunderstood—even by those closest to Him. Faithfulness did not bring approval; it often brought rejection.

“He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him.” – John 1:11

“Even His brothers did not believe in Him.” – John 7:5

6. He Was Betrayed by a Close Friend

Jesus suffered relationally. Betrayal came not from enemies, but from one He trusted and loved.

“He who eats bread with Me has lifted up his heel against Me.” – John 13:18

“Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests.” – Matthew 26:14

7. He Was Abandoned by His Followers

At His darkest hour, Jesus stood alone. Those who pledged loyalty fled. Picking up the cross meant continuing obedience without human support.

“Then all the disciples forsook Him and fled.” – Matthew 26:56

“I am alone, because the Father is with Me.” – John 16:32

8. He Endured False Accusation and Injustice Without Retaliation

Jesus suffered unjust systems without retaliation. He trusted the Father to judge rightly.

“False witnesses came forward.” – Matthew 26:60

“Who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return.” – 1 Peter 2:23

9. He Accepted Mockery and Public Humiliation

Jesus absorbed shame rather than avoiding it. The cross included social and emotional suffering, not just physical pain.

“They mocked Him, saying, ‘Hail, King of the Jews!’” – Matthew 27:29

“He endured the cross, despising the shame.” – Hebrews 12:2

 10. He Suffered Extreme Physical Violence, And Then Forgave Them

Jesus’ body bore real pain. Love was not symbolic; it was costly.

“Then he released Barabbas to them; and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered Him to be crucified.” – Matthew 27:26

“They pierced My hands and My feet.” – Psalm 22:16

“And Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.’” – Luke 23:34

11. He Bore Sin and Guilt Not His Own

The deepest suffering of the cross was spiritual. Jesus carried the weight of humanity’s sin so reconciliation could occur.

“He Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree.” – 1 Peter 2:24

“The LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.” – Isaiah 53:6

12. He Experienced Spiritual Agony While Trusting the Father

Jesus felt the darkness of abandonment yet did not abandon faith. This shows that faithfulness is possible even without felt comfort.

“My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” – Matthew 27:46

“Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit.” – Luke 23:46

13. He Trusted God To The Point of Death and Beyond, in Faith Waiting for Vindication

Jesus entrusted the outcome fully to the Father. Resurrection was not forced—it was trusted.

“You will not leave My soul in Hades.” – Acts 2:27

“This Jesus God has raised up.” – Acts 2:32

Jesus picked up His cross by choosing trust over control, obedience over comfort, love over self-preservation, and faith over fear—at every stage of life, not only at death.

What Can We Learn from Jesus and His Cross

Picking up the cross teaches us that obedience precedes understanding, trust often comes before relief, and life emerges only after surrender.

“Though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered.” – Hebrews 5:8

The Following table summarizes the various ways Jesus suffered in faith, why each matters, and how we should apply that learning to our lives.

 

How Jesus Suffered What This Involved Why It Matters Appropriate Response
Leaving Glory Leaving heaven to become human Shows God’s humility and nearness Trust God’s humility; reject pride
Becoming Human Weakness, limitation, hunger, fatigue God fully understands human life Bring your weakness to God honestly
Poverty and Obscurity Living without wealth, status, or security God values faithfulness over success Detach worth from material success
Temptation Experiencing real temptation without sin Jesus understands moral struggle Trust Him for help in temptation
Rejection Rejected by crowds, leaders, even family Faithful doesn’t guarantee approval Obey God without needing validation
Betrayal Judas’ betrayal for money Love does not prevent betrayal Love without controlling outcomes
Abandoned Disciples fled at His arrest God’s plan does not depend on loyalty Stay faithful even when alone
Accusation / Injustice Unjust trial, false witness God sees truth even when systems fail Entrust justice to God
Mockery / Humiliation Spitting, beating, ridicule, public shame God absorbs shame to restore us Release shame; value humility
Physical Suffering Scourging, exhaustion, crucifixion Love is costly, not theoretical Take sin and love seriously
Bearing Sin Taking upon Himself the guilt of others Sin has real weight and consequence Receive forgiveness; reject self-justification
Spiritual Agony Feeling forsaken while trusting the Father Faith persists even without felt comfort Trust God in emotional darkness
Death Willingly surrendering His life God’s love goes to the uttermost Die to self-rule; trust eternity

How Do We Pick Up Our Cross Today?

We do not seek suffering, but we do not avoid obedience when suffering comes.

Picking up your cross means choosing faithfulness over comfort in real, everyday decisions.

1) Humble Yourself

Like it or not, You are completely dependent on God; You can do nothing without Him. 

“I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.” – John 15-5

2) Submit Yourself To God – Put Him First – Make Jesus Lord of Your Life

You have free will. God gives you the choice and your choice has consequences. God promises blessings and protection if we put Him first and follow His instructions and He make it clear there are consequences if we chose not to follow Him.

“See, I am setting before you today a blessing and a curse: the blessing, if you obey the commandments of the Lord your God, which I command you today, and the curse, if you do not obey the commandments of the Lord your God, but turn aside from the way that I am commanding you today, to go after other gods that you have not known. – Deuteronomy 11:26-28

“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” – James 4:7

“…if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” – Romans 10:9

3) Release Control and Entrust Outcomes to God

“Commit your way to the LORD, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass.” – Psalm 37:5

4) Love and Serve Without Needing Recognition

“By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us.” 1 John 3:16

5) Absorb the bad crap that happens to you and do not retaliate

One of the best ways I have learned to understand the cross came from Dan Mohler. 

His quote is “Don’t let sin against you become sin in you.” 

You need to absorb the bad stuff that people say or do and let it fall off you without you taking it to heart or adversely impacting your attitude.

 Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” – Romans 12:17-19

6) Obey God Even When It Costs You

“Be doers of the word, and not hearers only.” James 1:22

Are We Walking in Fellowship with Jesus and the Cross?

Use this table as a self-test.

“That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings.” – Philippians 3:10

 

Aspect of Life Carrying My Cross (Following Jesus) Living for Myself
Core Motivation “I want God’s will more than my comfort.” “I want what feels best or benefits me most.”
Decision-Making Choose obedience even when costly Choose convenience, safety, or advantage
Response to Suffering Trust God; seeks meaning and faithfulness Resist, resent, or escape discomfort
View of Control Surrender outcomes to God Try to manage, manipulate, or protect
Use of Power or Position Serve others humbly Use power for self-protection or status
Handling of Offense Forgive; release vengeance Hold grudges; rehearses wrongs
Approach to Truth Embrace truth even when uncomfortable Avoid or redefines truth to feel justified
Relationship with Sin Actively resist and repent Rationalize, hides, or accommodates
Attitude Toward Recognition Content to be unseen by people Need validation, praise, or approval
Stewardship of Resources Use time, energy, and money for God’s purposes Use resources primarily for self
Love for Others Give sacrificially without return Love when it is convenient or reciprocal
Prayer Life Seek alignment with God’s will Seek relief, control, or outcomes
Faith Under Delay Remain faithful when results are slow Grow discouraged or disengaged
Fruit Over Time Peace, humility, endurance, usefulness Anxiety, frustration, emptiness
Eternal Perspective Live with eternity in view Live mainly for the present moment

Ask Yourself:

Which column most honestly describes my current posture?

Where do I most resist surrendering control?

What is one concrete way I can pick up my cross today?

Picking up the cross daily means choosing trust, obedience, and love over comfort, control, and self-preservation—again and again.

Where to Learn More

• Isaiah 52–53
• Matthew 16, 26–27
• Hebrews 2, 5, 12
• 1 Peter 2–4

Call to Action

Look closely at Jesus. Study how He trusted, obeyed, and loved through suffering.

Then begin to emulate Him—not perfectly, but faithfully.

“He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.”  – 1 John 2:6

Follow Jesus And Become The Person He Intended

Posted on by jakirkgasser10439

Follow Jesus and Become The Person He Intended

Introduction: 

Jesus did not merely call people to believe true things about Him. He called them to follow Him — to enter His Kingdom, live under His leadership, and be transformed into the people God intended them to be.

“Follow Me.” — Matthew 4:19

This post lays out a full picture of how Jesus leads: through His Word, His teaching, His authority, His character of love, His example, His voice, and personal fellowship with Him.

It then provides a practical guide to what it means to follow Jesus, why it matters, and how to do it in a repeatable, concrete way—so your life progressively reflects His truth, His character, and His fruit.

What Does It Mean to Follow Jesus?

To follow Jesus means to submit your life to His leadership:

    • Your thinking,
    • Your priorities,
    • Your decisions,
    • Your relationships,
    • Your money,
    • Your time,
    • Your identity, and
    • Your direction.

Following is not merely learning information about Christ; it is living in alignment with Him.

Following Jesus has three core elements:

• Direction: You intentionally move where He leads, not where impulse or culture pulls.
• Transformation: You learn His ways and are formed into His likeness.
• Obedience: You respond to His words, even when it costs you comfort or reputation.

“If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.”  — Matthew 16:24

Following Jesus is not about losing your true self. It is about being rescued from counterfeit identities and destructive loops so you can live the life you were created for. You only loose the things you were never intended to have.

“I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” — John 10:10

Why Is Following Jesus So Important?

Everyone is being formed by something. Jesus calls us to be formed intentionally by truth, love, and life shared with Him.

The stakes are not merely a religious exercise. Following Jesus determines how you interpret reality, how you love others, how you respond to suffering, and what kind of person you become.

Jesus is the only reliable guide to life, truth, and reconciliation with God.

1) Jesus Is The Way, The Truth, And The Life

Jesus does not does not offer a personal perspective, cultural insight, or spiritual philosophy—He reveals reality as it truly is, a spiritual world operating under God’s rule. When Jesus speaks, He is not suggesting a better way to think; He is unveiling how life actually works. That is why His teachings confront us rather than merely encourage us. They expose false assumptions we hold about success, control, identity, and security, replacing them with truth.

“Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.’”  — John 14:6

Resisting Jesus’ leadership does not merely result in moral failure; it results in misalignment with reality, which inevitably produces confusion and instability. Alignment with Him, however, brings coherence. Life begins to make sense because it is finally ordered around truth rather than self-centered impulse or fear.

2) Self-Direction Quietly Produces Confusion And Loss, Jesus brings us back to Life.

One of the most dangerous illusions Jesus confronts is the belief that we can successfully direct our own lives without consequence. Self-direction rarely looks rebellious at first. It often appears reasonable, responsible, or even virtuous. But Jesus make it clear that that paths that seem right can still lead to destruction because they are built on self-rule rather than God’s rule.

“There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.” – Proverbs 14:12

Following Jesus rescues us from this slow, subtle drift. He interrupts patterns of self-centered love—where comfort, control, approval, or advantage quietly become governing values in our life—and He replaces them with trust in God. Without His leadership, people tend to cycle into a spiral of striving, justification, comparison, resentment, and eventual bitterness.

Jesus rescues us from those cycles as soon as we are willing to let Him lead us.

3) Transformation Requires Leadership, Not Willpower

Many people sincerely want to change and become better people. They want peace, patience, self-control, and love. What Jesus exposes is that desire alone is insufficient. Transformation does not occur through moral effort or self-discipline in isolation; it requires submission to a living leader who can reshape the inner life.

Jesus does not merely instruct from a distance—He leads from within. As we submit to His authority, His life begins to form in us. Old patterns lose their grip, not because we tried harder, but because a new governing power has taken root. Without leadership, people oscillate between brief improvement and repeated failure. With Jesus as leader, transformation becomes progressive and durable.

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”  — 2 Corinthians 5:17

4) Following Jesus Produces Fruit That Confirms Reality

Jesus consistently tied authentic following to observable fruit. This is not about perfection, but about direction and outcome. Over time, what truly governs a life becomes visible—peace or anxiety, humility or defensiveness, love or self-protection, stability or chaos.

The frit of our effort bears witness to the truth even when words cannot. A life submitted to Jesus increasingly produces endurance under pressure, clarity in decision-making, restored relationships, and usefulness to others. A life governed by self—even when outwardly religious—tends to produce strain, division, and exhaustion.

Jesus invites us to observe our outcomes and connect the dots back to our intentions. The fruit of our lives reveals which kingdom is actually ruling.

“Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit… Therefore by their fruits you will know them.” – Matthew 7:17, 20

How Jesus Leads Us

Scripture presents multiple, complementary ways Jesus leads His people.

These are not competing options; these modes interact to provide a robust recipe for our growth.

Primary channels:

    • His Word (Scripture and Commands)
    • His Teaching (Kingdom understanding and Wisdom)
    • His Authority (Lordship – Submission and Obedience)
    • His Character (Humility, love, obedience)
    • His Works (Modeling Sacrificial Love in Action)
    • His Voice (Relational guidance by the Spirit, aligned with God’s will, confirming goodness of God)
    • Personal Fellowship (Abiding presence) 

A practical way to remember the interaction is a repeating loop:

Word → Understanding → Perspective → Imitation → Obedience → Fruit → Deeper Hearing (and back again).

“If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.”  — John 15:7

How Do You Follow Jesus?

Following Jesus becomes sustainable only when it is built into your daily operating system

    • Your choice of inputs,
    • Your rhythms,
    • Your decision process,
    • Your relationships, and
    • Your response patterns.

The goal is not religious busyness; it is faithful alignment. 

The following are some best practice approaches to follow Jesus:

1) Let His Word Lead You More Strongly Than Your Feelings

Your emotions are very real, but they are often misleading.

Scripture functions as a lamp—exposing hidden hazards and revealing the proper next step.

The habit that changes everything is letting Scripture set the narrative before your feelings set the agenda.

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”  — Psalm 119:105

Best practices:

2) Learn How Jesus Thinks, Not Just What He Commands

Jesus’ teaching is not merely a list of rules; it is a worldview.

As you absorb His teaching, your perspective changes—what you value changes—and your decisions start to look different.

“Then He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures.” — Luke 24:45

Best practices:

• Spend sustained time in the Gospels: read Matthew, Mark, Luke, John repeatedly.
• Observe patterns: What does Jesus praise? What does He confront? What does He refuse?
• Replace assumptions: where culture says “self first,” ask what the Kingdom says instead.
• Study in context: avoid extracting verses to support what you already want.

3) Pursue Renewed Thinking and Discernment

Following Jesus requires a renovated mind.

Many people stall because they keep operating with old assumptions—then wonder why they keep getting old results.

Renewal is where truth replaces lies and discernment increases.

“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”  — Romans 12:2

Best practices:

• Name the lie: write the recurring belief that drives your fear, anger, pride, or despair.
• Replace with truth: pair each lie with an explicit Scripture truth and rehearse it daily.
• Watch your inputs: reduce content that trains cynicism, lust, outrage, or envy.
• Ask for counsel: invite mature believers to challenge your blind spots.

4) Imitate His Nature (Character Before Outcomes)

Jesus leads not only with instruction but by example. You can pursue ‘Christian activities’ and still miss His character.

Following means becoming the kind of person who responds the way Jesus responds.

“Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” – Matthew 11:29

Best practices:

• Practice humility: slow down before defending yourself; ask, “What can I learn here?”
• Practice love in small decisions: choose patience, honesty, generosity, and service when nobody is watching.
• Confess quickly: repentance keeps the channel clear and prevents hardening.
• Measure growth by resemblance to Christ, not by status, platform, or performance.

5) Obey Promptly—Especially Where It Costs

Obedience is the bridge between knowing and becoming. Many people accumulate knowledge and call it maturity. But Scripture treats disobedience as a leadership problem: calling Him ‘Lord’ while keeping control.

“But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do the things which I say?”  — Luke 6:46

Best practices:

• Act on the next step: do not wait for a complete five-year plan.
• Close partial obedience: identify the one area you keep exempting and bring it under Christ.
• Build accountability: follow-through is easier with structure and support.
• Expect resistance: obedience often collides with comfort, reputation, or control—plan for that friction.

6) Accept the Cross as Part of the Path

Jesus leads through surrender, not self-preservation. The cross is not an accessory; it is the path where the old self loses its grip and true life emerges. This is where self-centered love is confronted and displaced.

“For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.” — Matthew 16:25

Best practices:

• Identify self-protection: where do you demand control, comfort, or vindication?
• Practice surrender in prayer: “Lord, not my will—teach me Yours.”
• Reframe trials: treat pressure as formation, not proof that God left you.
• Choose faithfulness over image: follow Jesus when it is costly, not only when it is celebrated.

7) Cultivate A Relationship – Hear His Voice Through the Spirit, Tested by Scripture

Jesus leads His sheep relationally. Over time, the more you obey what you already know, the more clearly you tend to recognize His guidance. However, Scripture remains the objective guardrail.

“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.” –  John 10:27

Best practices:

• Create quiet: reduce noise so conviction is not drowned out by distraction.
• Be Led: Ask Him Questions, Listen for His answer, Write it down
• Test impressions: if a ‘prompting’ contradicts Scripture, it is not from Jesus.
• Look for Christlike outcomes: humility, love, truth, and peace—rather than ego and chaos.
• Practice obedience to small promptings: faithfulness increases sensitivity.

How Can I Tell If I Am Following Jesus?

Use the table below as a self test diagnostic. The goal is not condemnation; it is clarity—so you can identify where alignment is strong and where it needs to deepen.

 

Flow Stage Not Following Jesus Following Jesus Verse
Hear His Word Scripture is sporadic, optional, or used only in crisis. Scripture shapes decisions and self-talk; I obey what I read. Your word is a lamp to my feet – Psalm 119:105
Understand His Teaching Culture, fear, or self-interest dominates interpretation. Jesus’ worldview reframes priorities; truth corrects assumptions. If you abide in My word… you shall know the truth – John 8:31–32
Renewed Mind Repeated confusion, rationalization, or double-mindedness. Lies are identified and replaced; discernment increases over time. Be transformed by the renewing of your mind – Romans 12:2
Imitate His Nature Defensiveness, pride, comparison, self-protection. Growing humility, gentleness, love, and repentance. Learn from Me… for I am gentle and lowly – Matthew 11:29
Obedience Delayed obedience; negotiated obedience; selective obedience. Prompt obedience; I serve; I follow through even when costly. Why do you call Me ‘Lord’ and not do what I say  – Luke 6:46
Bear Fruit Striving, anxiety, stagnation, recurring relational damage. Peace, endurance, growing usefulness, and relational repair. By their fruits you will know them  – Matthew 7:20
Hear His Voice Spiritual numbness; impulsive ‘guidance’ untethered from Scripture. Clear conviction and guidance consistent with Scripture. My sheep hear My voice and follow Me  – John 10:27

Am I Following or Am I Stalled?

Many believers do not stop following Jesus entirely; they stall at a predictable point in the process.

This table helps you locate the stall and take the next faithful step.

 

Stall Point What It Often Feels Like Common Symptoms Likely Root Next Best Step
Word “I’m too busy / I’ll start later.” Low intake; shallow recall; reactive decisions. Self-directed authority; weak rhythms. Set a daily minimum;read + apply one action.
Teaching “I know a lot, but nothing changes.” Information without transformation. Hearing without doing. Study one Gospel section and obey one command immediately.
Renewal “I keep repeating the same loop.” Recurring lies; rationalization; confusion. Unchallenged beliefs driving emotions. Name the lie;replace with Scripture;
Rehearse daily.
Nature “I’m right; they’re wrong.” Defensiveness;
Pride;
Harshness.		 Identity rooted in self/ego. Repent quickly;Practice humility;Reconcile where possible.
Obedience “I’ll do it when it’s easier.” Delay;
Selective obedience;
Avoidance.		 Fear of loss;
Comfort/control.		 Do the costly next step; add accountability.
Fruit “I don’t see impact.” Little peace;
Little usefulness;
Ongoing drift.		 Misaligned priorities;
Divided focus.		 Realign time / money / relationships toward Kingdom priorities.
Voice “I can’t tell what God wants.” Noise, distraction;
Impulsive decisions.		 Weak abiding;
Low quiet;
Poor testing.		 Create quiet; Test with Scripture;Obey the last clear instruction.

“If anyone wills to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine.” — John 7:17 (NKJV)

Where Can I Learn More?

Scripture Study Paths:

• The Call to Follow and Kingdom Living: Matthew 4–7
• Hearing His Voice and Shepherding: John 10
• Love, Humility, and Example: John 13
• Abiding, the Spirit, and Fruit: John 14–17
• New Life, the Spirit-led Walk, and Freedom: Romans 6–8
• Crucified Life and the Fruit of the Spirit: Galatians 2–5
• Endurance, Discipline, and Maturity: Hebrews 12

Key Topics to Study:

• Abiding vs striving (John 15:1–8)
• Obedience vs knowledge-only religion (James 1:22–25)
• Renewing the mind (Romans 12:2)
• Putting off the old / putting on the new (Ephesians 4:22–24)
• Walking by the Spirit vs the flesh (Galatians 5:16–26)
• Hearing and following the Shepherd (John 10:1–30)
• Endurance under pressure (Hebrews 12:1–11)

A practical study method:

• Read: one short passage.
• Observe: what does it reveal about Jesus and the Kingdom?
• Apply: one concrete act of obedience.
• Pray: ask for power to do what you saw.
• Review: revisit the same passage across the week until it becomes practice.

Call to Action

Jesus is not merely offering forgiveness; He is offering leadership.

The life you were created for is not found by asking Jesus to endorse your plans. It is found by stepping behind Him—daily—and letting Him lead your mind, your heart, and your decisions.

Start with the next faithful step. Return to the Word. Obey what you already know. Practice humility. Surrender what you’ve kept in your own hands. And keep walking.

Over time, you will look back and realize you did not merely ‘try harder’—you were led into a different kind of life.

“Follow Me.” — Matthew 9:9 (NKJV)

Deny Yourself and Pick Up Your Cross – Lose Your Life to Find It

Posted on by jakirkgasser10439

Deny Yourself and Pick Up Your Cross – Lose Your Life to Find It

Introduction

Jesus’ invitation to discipleship is not a call to self-improvement, religious performance, or moral self-polishing.

His words touch identity, desire, and destiny:

“If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.” (Luke 9:23)

To many, these words feel weighty or unclear—but they are an invitation into true life.

To ‘lose your life’ for Christ is not to lose yourself—it is to exchange the false self for the life you were created for.

What It Means to Deny Yourself

Denying yourself is an identity-level surrender.

It is laying down:

  • Your self-made identity  – based on worldly perspectives like ego, performance, positions, possessions
  • Your self-rule and self-will
  • Your version of your story
  • Your demand for control and comfort

It is the release of the old identity shaped by wounds, pride, fear, shame, and self-reliance so Christ can define who you truly are.

What denying yourself is NOT:

It is not:

  • Self-hatred or self-rejection
  • Losing your God-given personality
  • Suppressing your worth or dignity
  • Punishing yourself or rejecting joy

Jesus is not asking you to erase yourself—but to release the false self-centered self so your true life can emerge.

Crucifying the Flesh – The Daily Internal Battle

The ‘flesh’ is the fallen nature within us—self-centered impulses, emotional reflexes, and ungodly desires.

It includes:

  • Pride
  • Lust
  • Resentment
  • Anger and retaliation
  • Fear and self-protection

To crucify the flesh is to yield to the Holy Spirit as He dismantles what you cannot kill on your own.

It prepares your soul to carry your cross with love, endurance, and forgiveness.

What It Means to Pick Up Your Cross Daily

Picking up your cross is the external expression of internal surrender.

It is not just enduring hardship—it is embracing obedience and sacrificial love even when it costs you.

It includes:

  • Choosing obedience when it is costly
  • Loving when it hurts
  • Absorbing mistreatment without retaliation
  • Forgiving instead of resenting
  • Enduring pressure without quitting

This is only possible when self is denied and the flesh is crucified. The cross requires a dead flesh and a living Spirit.

Why This Is Important

Humanity was created for purpose—to reflect God, walk with Him, and partner with Him in a world filled with His glory.

Sin disrupted this purpose, twisting identity, warping desire, derailing destiny, and separating us from God.

Your purpose was interrupted as well. To be restored to the life God intended, the old self must die so the new life can rise.

The early church said:

“Die before you die, so that when you die, you will not die.”

Surrender now restores purpose, shapes eternal destiny, and prepares you for the joy of heaven.

How to Deny Yourself and Pick Up Your Cross

A practical pathway emerges:

  1. Deny Yourself – surrender identity, will, and story.
  2. Crucify the Flesh – allow the Spirit to kill sinful patterns.
  3. Pick Up Your Cross – embrace sacrificial obedience.
  4. Follow Jesus – live as His disciple, partner, and representative.

Best practices:

  • Daily surrender prayer
  • Declaring Your Surrender Out Loud – Declaration provided below
  • Staying focused on your purpose: bring God glory, become love, manifest Christ, shine as a beacon
  • Journaling identity lies and exchanging them for truth
  • Confessing sinful desires and yielding them to the Spirit
  • Practicing forgiveness and humility
  • Embracing discomfort for serving God’s purpose

Declaration of Surrender and Cross-Bearing

Lord, I choose to lose this fallen life to find new life through You.
I deny my old self: I will let go of every false identity, every self-centered motive, and every attempt to control my own way.
I will release my pride, my wounds, my demands, and everything that once defined me.
My life no longer belongs to me—it belongs to You.

I crucify my flesh: I will put to death every sinful reaction, desire, and pattern that rises from my old nature.
I will choose patience over impulse, purity over compromise, and truth over the lies that once shaped me.
Holy Spirit, strengthen me—because I cannot change myself, but You can transform me completely.

I pick up my cross today: I will choose to sacrifice my interest and flow God’s love even when it costs me something.
I will forgive quickly, refuse offense, obey when it’s uncomfortable, and endure without quitting.
I will love others the way Jesus loves me, even when it hurts.

I will follow and imitate Jesus: I will walk in humility, compassion, servanthood, and surrender.
I will seek to become love in every situation, letting His nature guide my thoughts, words, and actions.
Where Jesus would go, I will go; what Jesus would do, I will do—by the power of His Spirit.

Lord, It is no longer “I” who lives, but Christ lives in me and through me.
Apart from Christ I can do nothing, but with the Holy Spirit all things are possible.
With His help, I will bring glory to God in all I do. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Self-Diagnostic: Old Self vs. New Life in Christ

Before we can follow Jesus fully, we must honestly evaluate which parts of our old self are still alive and which parts of Christ’s new life are now active within us.

The table below is a tool to help you recognize where the self-life still holds influence and where the Spirit is already at work.

Reflect on each row honestly. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal the truth.

Ask Him: “Lord, what flawed/fallen part of me needs to die today so more of You can live in me?”

See which column best describes the recurring patterns in your life.

Confess those areas of weakness to God and surrender them to His authority.

Celebrate and reinforce areas where new life is evident.

Allow this assessment to guide intentional spiritual growth and daily cross-bearing.

 

Aspect

Old Self Indicators

New Life in Christ Indicators

Identity

Self-made identity, insecurity, role-dependence

 Identity rooted in Christ, security, belovedness

Will

Self-rule, resistance, control

Submission, yieldedness, trust

Desires

Impulses, lusts, resentments

Spirit-shaped desires, purity, compassion
Emotions

Reactivity, resentment, fear

Peace, forgiveness, emotional stability

Relationships

Self-protection, pride, withdrawal

 Love, humility, reconciliation
Suffering Response

Bitterness, retaliation, escapism

 Endurance, faithfulness, forgiveness

Obedience

Convenience-based obedience

Costly obedience, joyful submission
Purpose

Living for self

 Living for God’s glory, becoming love

Where to Learn More

Key Scriptures To Read / Meditate On:

  • Luke 9:23–25 — The Core Call to Discipleship

Jesus’ most direct teaching on denying self, taking up your cross daily, and losing your life to find it. Essential for grasping the heart of discipleship.

  • Galatians 5:16–25 — Crucifying the Flesh

Explains the battle between flesh and Spirit, the works of the flesh, and the fruit of the Spirit. Shows that flesh crucifixion is only possible through the Holy Spirit.

  • Romans 12:1–2 — A Living Sacrifice

Reveals how surrender leads to transformation through renewal of the mind. Emphasizes presenting your whole life to God as worship.

  • John 12:24–26 — The Grain of Wheat Must Die

Jesus explains that fruitfulness, impact, and eternal value flow from dying to self.

  • Philippians 3:7–14 — Losing All to Gain Christ

Paul’s personal testimony of exchanging self-driven purpose for Christ-driven purpose.

  • John 15 — Abiding, Fruitfulness, and Pruning

Shows that life flows from abiding, and pruning (removal, surrender) leads to greater fruit.

Books:

  • The Practice of the Presence of God — Brother Lawrence

A classic on walking with God in all things. Helps readers cultivate a surrendered, moment-by-moment awareness of God’s presence—essential for denying self.

  • Renovation of the Heart — Dallas Willard

A deep treatment of spiritual transformation. Willard explains how God reshapes identity, desires, will, emotions, and habits—the “inner self” Jesus calls us to deny.

  • Victory Over Darkness — Neil Anderson

A practical resource for identity in Christ, authority over sin, and overcoming the lies of the flesh—excellent for crucifying the old nature.

  • The Purpose Driven Life — Rick Warren

Focuses on God’s purpose for your life and how surrender leads to meaning, mission, and fulfillment in Christ.

  • Cost of Discipleship — Dietrich Bonhoeffer

A sobering, profound work that declares: “When Christ calls a man, He bids him come and die.” A must-read for understanding the cross-bearing life.

Teachers:

  • Dan Mohler — Intimacy With God

Powerfully explains relational Christianity, identity in Christ, and why self-centered living must die.
Focus: Removing self, becoming love, manifesting Christ.

  • Dan Mohler — Cultivating a Genuine Relationship With God

Shows how surrender, trust, and ongoing fellowship change everything—excellent for learning to deny self practically.

  • Dan Mohler — Getting Alone With God

Stresses the importance of fellowship with the Father as the foundation for transformation.
Focuses heavily on identity surrender and removing self-awareness.

  • John Bevere — The Awe of God

Emphasizes the fear of the Lord, obedience, and holy surrender.
Great for understanding why denying self is essential.

  • Craig Groeschel — Mastermind (Renewing Your Mind)

Helpful series for renewing thinking patterns and crucifying mental habits of the flesh.

  • Francis Chan — Surrender / Lukewarm Christianity

Stirs conviction and vision for wholehearted discipleship.

Practices: 

  • Daily Surrender Prayer

Start each day by offering your identity, will, desires, and plans to God.
This resets your “inner compass” toward Christ.

  • Scripture Meditation (Slow, Reflective Reading)

Focus especially on passages about identity, surrender, love, and transformation.
Allow the Spirit to spotlight areas where the flesh must die.

  • Journaling (Lie → Truth Exchange)

Write down lies of the old self, confront them with Scripture, and replace them with the truth of who you are in Christ.

  • Holy Spirit Partnership

Ask the Spirit daily:
“Show me what in me must die today so Christ can live more fully.”
Crucifying the flesh is His work, not yours.

  • Practicing Forgiveness in Real Time

Cross-bearing requires releasing resentment the moment it tries to take root.
This is one of the clearest indicators of a crucified flesh.

  • Choosing Costly Obedience

Whenever obedience requires discomfort, choose obedience—this builds the spiritual muscles of cross-bearing.

  • Community & Accountability

Walk with others who are pursuing deep transformation.
Ask them to help you identify blind spots in the flesh and to encourage your spiritual growth.

  • Maintaining Focus on Eternal Purpose

Remind yourself daily:

“I exist to bring God glory.”

“I exist to become love.”

“I exist to manifest Christ.”

“I exist to shine His light into darkness.”

Purpose fuels surrender; surrender fuels purpose.

Final Thoughts

Denying yourself, crucifying the flesh, and carrying your cross daily cannot be learned by accident.
They require:

    • revelation
    • consistent training
    • immersion in the Word
    • models to follow
    • practical tools
    • Spirit-empowered transformation

These resources and best practices will help guide and sustain the journey.

Lose Your Life To Find It

Posted on by jakirkgasser10439

Lose Your Life To Find It (Draft)

Introduction

The paradox of losing one’s life to truly find it resonates deeply in biblical teaching. This concept invites believers to surrender their self-centered inclinations and submit fully to God’s agenda for them. In a world where our inherited sinful nature often drives us to pursue personal gain, the call to relinquish control opens the door to receiving God’s abundant love and allowing it to overflow into the lives of others.

What Does “Lose Your Life to Find It” Mean

Our fallen nature predisposes us toward an inward focus, prioritizing personal ambitions and temporary pleasures. This phrase summarizes God’s guidance to us to abandon the pursuit of self-importance and selfish desires and yield to God’s plans and agenda for us to be of service to Him and others. 

We are called to Lose our life to find it.

Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it. Matthew 10:39

We are called to follow follow Jesus model and emulate Him: Deny our own self and our earthly life as the primary focus, pick up our cross and deal with what ever suffering comes our way, and follow Jesus into new life. He set the example: He humbled himself and came down from heaven as a human infant to serve His children, He suffered and died on the cross for us. He absorbed the abuse and  forgave those who tortured Him in service for a higher purpose. He set the example, We need ot follow: Lose focus on or selves and our own agendas in this earthly life, to find  His true purpose for our lives in service of a higher eternal agenda.   

Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. Matthew 16:24-25 

When we release our grip on worldly ambitions and give up control, we open ourselves to God’s transformative power.

This loss is not defeat but a profound exchange: our limited, self-oriented existence for a life enriched by divine purpose.

True spiritual growth occurs only when we let go of our own agendas and embrace the call to live for God. Our natural inclination toward self-preservation is not only counterproductive but also contrary to the nature of God’s kingdom.

Why Is It Important

The importance of surrendering control is twofold. First, our inherited sinful nature makes us naturally self-centered and selfish. This orientation distances us from the relational love that God desires for us—a love that is meant to be both received and shared.

When we cling to our own desires, we inadvertently block the channel through which God’s love can flow, keeping us from experiencing the fullness of His grace.

Second, failing to relinquish control restricts God’s ability to work in our lives. God gave us dominion over this earth and free will to decide how ot use that dominion.

He is very clear: Our choices have consequences.

When we choose to align with Him and His agenda, He will support us, guide us, enable us, bless us, and work all things for our good.

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.Proverbs 3:5-6

Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him, and he will act” is Psalm 37:5.

If we choose to pursue our own agendas, control things, and work things based on our understanding, things will not work out so well for us or those connected to us. 

There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death. Proverbs 14:12

When we hold on too tightly to our own plans, we essentially tie God’s hands, preventing Him from molding us into the image He intended when He formed us and put us here.

Resisting God’s guidance limits the scope of His miraculous work, both within us and through us, diminishing our potential to be effective instruments of His love and mercy.

How Do You Do It

Embrace Humility

Recognize that the true value of life is found not in self-promotion but in humility. By acknowledging our own limitations and brokenness, we open our hearts to receive God’s transformative love. This humility is the first step towards surrendering our selfish nature.

Surrender Control

Consciously decide to yield every aspect of your life to God. This means inviting Him into your decisions, relationships, and daily routines. It involves trusting that His plan is superior to our own and that His guidance is perfect—even when it leads us down unexpected paths.

Cultivate a Heart of Service

Shift your focus from self-centered goals to serving others. When you live out your faith through acts of kindness and compassion, you demonstrate the love of Christ. Transformation begins when we move from self-interest to genuine love for our neighbors.

Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. Philippians 2:3-4

Regularly Reflect and Pray

Consistent prayer and reflection are crucial in maintaining a surrendered heart. Engage with Scripture, asking God to reveal the areas in your life where you are resisting His will. Allow the Holy Spirit to guide you in the process of continual transformation.

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. James 1:5-6

Resources for Further Research

  • Oswald Chambers’ My Utmost for His Highest
    This classic devotional work challenges believers to live a life wholly surrendered to God, echoing the theme of losing oneself to find deeper spiritual fulfillment.

  • A.W. Tozer’s Writings
    Tozer’s works consistently call for a deeper, more personal relationship with God, stressing the importance of surrendering control to experience His transformative power.

  • C.S. Lewis’ Mere Christianity
    Lewis explores the nature of Christian faith with clarity, discussing the counter-cultural nature of living for God rather than oneself.

Exploring these resources and meditating on biblical truths, believers can better understand how relinquishing control is not a loss, but a pathway to experiencing the fullness of God’s love and purpose in our lives.

Embracing this journey requires courage and commitment, but the promise is clear: in losing our self-centered lives, we find the abundant, transformative life that God intends for each of us.

 

Deny Yourself, Pick Up Your Cross Daily, Follow Jesus

Posted on by jakirkgasser10439

Deny Yourself, Pick Up Your Cross Daily, Follow Jesus

We are called to Follow Jesus. Jesus is the shephard, we are His flock. We are to hear His voice and follow Him. We are called to follow in His footsteps and walk as He walked.  We are to imitate Him and become like Him. 

Jesus came here in the flesh as the expressed image of the Father. That means HE is Love. We are to imitate Him, and become love.

In order to imitate Him you need to open your eyes and begin to see things from His perspective. You need to look at how He lived His life and understand what He was trying to do.  You then need to figure out how to apply that understanding to your life. As you do this, you will get to “know Him” and He will get to know you.

He provides very direct instructions in how to do this in a robust way: Deny Yourself, Pick up your cross daily, and follow Him.

Deny yourself means to set aside your own self-conscious identity and cut off the selfish agendas that drive us. We need to realize this life is not all about ME and my ego, it is about allowing God to operate through ME to flow His love to others. God’s love is perfected when it flows through us to others. Self-centeredness gets in the way of this flow, it diverts and hords God’s love in ourselves rather than letting it flow through us to others. We need to flow God’s love through us, you can dable in this by finding ways to helping others. This, at least, gets you moving in the right direciton.  

Deny yourself is a critical step to truly becoming love.

Love does not try to draw attention to itself. It does not brag about how good things are going or complain about how bad things are going. It remains focused on how best to serve and help others.

Love does not try to build itself up or parade itself around. It does not seek credit for what it has or what it does. It doesn’t matter what your car looks like, it doesn’t matter how big or fancy your house is. It doesn’t matter if anyone notices when you spend time or money doing something nice. You need to shut down your ego and get it out of the way for God’s love to flow through you to others.

Love does not build itself up by putting others down. We are each God’s children and deserve to be treated with love. He promises to treat you exactly as you have treated others. Don’t build yourself up at the expense of others.  Don’t tear others down just to build yourself up. Find ways to lower yourself and serve others; the last will be the first in His kingdom.

Love is not focused on money or material  things. Love is focused on using our gifts, talents and resources to do good works for other people. Find ways to be nice to people, loving others, helping those in need physically, mentally, and spiritually.  

Love does not worry about what others think or say or do to it. It does not get puffed up when people say nice things, it does not take offense when someone treats it badly. Don’t seek credit for doing good; Don’t let the left hand know what the right hand is doing.

Love is content.  It does not envy what others have or take actions to maliciously pursue or take it.

Picking up your cross challenges you and helps you become Love:

Love is willing to sacrifice and suffer for a good cause. God sent His son even while we were rebelling against Him as sinners. Jesus was willing to suffer and die on the cross for us, even while He was being rejected by the very people He came to save. He not only was willing to suffer for us, He said nothing while it happened and forgave those who did it to them.  God knows exactly what has happened to you and what you think, say, and do to others. He promises rewards in heaven for suffering wrongs in this life without retaliating.  

Love forgives and does not hold grudges. Love sees the best in people. Love sees each of us as God’s children struggling in a fallen world.  Love forgives them of misguided actions and is willing to move forward. You are called to absorb wrongs and forgive 70×7 times. You are even called to love your enemies, pray for them, and bless them. You are to overcome evil with good.

Follow Jesus and love will blossom into faith and bring Him glory:

Love is focused on the hope of eternal things rather than the trials and tribulations of our individual earthly life. Jesus focused on the Fathers work, and He did the Fathers will. Stay focused on God and His purpose for our life. We are here to bring God glory. What can we do to serve Him and bring Him glory in our earthly life and how can our earthly lives help others gain an eternal life with Him.

Love has hope and high expectations for God’s divine purpose and plan, Jesus was willing to pick up his cross and die for us on the promise of resurrection on the third day. We trust in Him and His plan even when things are not going well for us in this life.

Please take seriously the opportunity to deny yourself, pick up your cross daily, and follow Jesus. Imitate Him and become love. Walk as He walked, Become the light as He was in the light.  Become a bright beacon for His kingdom. Stand boldly on judgement day because you have become like Him in this life.

Hope this helps.

 

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