Luke 9:23-27
For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it.
Luke 9:24

Jesus taught His disciples on self-denial. He taught His audience to leave the life of sin and greed. Many times His
teachings were countercultural to the life they were used to.

Looking at today’s passage Jesus taught on the need to leave the world and its ways and embrace the way of the Lord.
Why? The end justifies the means. When we live right, we will be with Him in eternity. When we live right and do what we need to do, we will become His representatives here on earth.

We are encouraged to embrace self-denial because there is a cross to carry. He said, “If anyone desires to come after Me,let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it” (Luke 9:23-24).

The cross is a lifestyle that teaches death to self. It advocates embracing a new way of thinking and living. Why all these? There is a prize. When we deny our fleshly passions to gain Christ, we will receive heaven’s reward.

Paul writes, “For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace” (Romans 8:6). May the Lord help us to heed the word of the Master to deny ourselves to gain heavenly rewards in Jesus Name. Shalom.

Your Turn

• Pray for yourself.

Hymn: All to Jesus I surrender.

Further Reading: Galatians 2:20.