Title: Self-reliance to take up one's cross
self-reliance to take up one's cross
Text/ Matthew 16:24-28 (Mark 8:24-9:1, Luke 9:23-27)
1. Introduction
Last week we meditated on the fact that the process of self-denial is essential to a better life in this world. Today's theme is, "What is self-denial to take up one's cross and follow Jesus?" I try to share grace while meditating on it.
2. Self-denial for a higher spiritual life
As I meditated on this subject of self-denial, I discovered a truly gracious wisdom. The wisdom is that just as the process of self-denial is essential to live a better life in this world, the process of self-denial is essential to live a better spiritual life. In particular, it is the fact that the process of self-denial for a higher spiritual life is impossible without the help of God the Father-Son-Son-Holy Trinity. Therefore, Jesus Himself said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God, for with God all things are possible” (Mark 10:27).
- Bible verses about self-denial, taking up the cross and following Jesus
*And he said to the multitudes, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me (Luke 9:23).
*This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. If you do what I command you, you are my friends... I command you to do this so that you may love one another (John 15:12-17).
*My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; but not as I will, but as you will (Matthew 26:39).
*Not one of us lives for himself, and not one dies for himself. If we live, we live for the Lord, and if we die, we die for the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord's (Romans 14:7-8).
*I died through the law to the law, that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. We live by faith in the Son of God, who gave himself up (Galatians 2:19-20).
*Therefore, I do not run as if I was aimless, and I do not fight as if I was striking the air, but I beat my body to submission, lest after I preach to others, I myself would be rejected (1 Corinthians 9:26-26) 27)
*By the boasting in you that I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, brethren, I affirm that I die daily (1 Corinthians 15:31).
3. What is self-denial, taking up one's cross and following Jesus?
first. In order for each person to take up their own cross and deny themselves to follow Jesus, training to cultivate spiritual power must be prioritized. Among the self-denials listed above, the most important word is “every day, daily, every day” that appears when you say, “Take up your cross daily I die daily. In order to take up my cross every day - to die every day - I have to do spiritual training every day. The Apostle Paul said to Timothy, son of faith, “Be wholehearted in all these things, so that your progress may be made visible to all; be careful with yourself and your teachings, and continue doing these things, for by doing these you will save yourself and those who hear you.” (1 Timothy 4) :15-16)”.
Even today, we believers should strive to reach a high spiritual level of self-denial by practicing, training, and practicing the word + prayer + singing “daily” according to each person's circumstances.
second. The saying to deny yourself, take up your cross and follow Jesus is a very old saying. However, it is a bit difficult to think that these words are possible only if we have a tremendous amount of faith that ordinary people like us cannot dare to look at. Of course, there are saints who practiced self-denial, but I think we should live a life of self-denial that is equivalent to the measure of each person's faith.
But the most important part of a self-denial's life is that each person takes good care of the people closest to him (family-relatives-friends-church members-neighbors, etc.). Because “whoever does not take care of his relatives, especially his own family, has betrayed the faith and is worse than an unbeliever” (1 Timothy 5:8). To take care of someone at the expense of one's wealth-time-comfort-help is itself denial. Of course, this includes elderly parents, children with disabilities, friends in need, and members of the Church.
Examples of little self-denial in the Bible:
The widow of Zarephath, who served the prophet Elijah (1 Kings 17:8-16), the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37), and the women who served Jesus and his disciples with their possessions (Luke 8:13). Tabitha of Joppa who helped a poor widow (Acts 9:36-42), Lydia, a merchant in Thyatira (Acts 16:14-15, 40), etc.
third. There is one thing that those who want to deny themselves, take up their cross and follow Jesus, need to be careful. That is the problem of 使命感 (Mission). This is because if the sense of duty is consistent as in the beginning, it becomes the most noble and beautiful, but if the sense of duty is altered and corrupted, it becomes the most vulgar and filthy. Therefore, the missionary should pray “daily” as follows to see if his sense of duty is the same as the beginning.
God, give me the courage to accept the things I cannot change, and the courage to change the things I can change. And give me the wisdom to know the difference between the two.
God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; Courge to change the things I can; And wisdom to know the difference (Reinhold Niebuhr).