30th Mar 26 | 13:54
Studies by Book
Luke 14 25-33 The cost of discipleship 11 Carrying our cross, daily
📖 Luke 14:25-33
02Jan2020 - *Carrying our cross, daily* - _Luke 14:25-33_ - Bible reading: _John 3:13-15_
_Luke 14:27 And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. Luke 9:23 Then He said to them all, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me._
We need constant reminder that we cannot be Christ’ disciples by our own strength. We will fail miserably if we try to do so. Discipleship is a walk in the Holy Spirit. It is the Holy Spirit alone, who enables us to be disciples of Jesus.
We understood the first requirement to be a disciple of Christ, when Jesus said that we have to hate our loved ones. We then looked at the second requirement, which is to hate our life. The third requirement to be a disciple of Jesus is to deny the self. The fourth is to take up our cross daily.
How do we understand the fourth requirement to be a disciple of Jesus? Jesus came into the world to go to the cross. _John 3:13-15 No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven. (14) And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, (15) that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life._ Jesus had to go to the cross so that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life or to be reconciled with God.
The Lord is drawing all peoples to Himself and this would happen, when He is lifted up on the cross. _John 12:32-33 And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself." (33) This He said, signifying by what death He would die. John 19:16-17 Then he delivered Him to them to be crucified. Then they took Jesus and led Him away. (17) And *He, bearing His cross*, went out to a place called the Place of a Skull, which is called in Hebrew, Golgotha,_
God was reconciling the world to Himself. _Colossians 1:20 and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross._ This was the purpose for Jesus, through the cross.
This same purpose is now entrusted to us, which is to complete the purpose of Jesus of reconciling the world to God. The ministry of reconciliation is delivered to us. _II Corinthians 5:18-21 Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, (19) that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. (20) Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God. (21) For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him._
Whatever we do in life, we do it to carry the cross of Jesus, of reconciling people to God. This is what each of us, as His disciples, ought to do, daily. There is no place or profession that is outside the work of carrying our cross. All of us are His missionaries. No exemptions. _Colossians 3:17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him._
*Thought to ponder*
Are you carrying your cross, daily?