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NASB | Luke 9:23 ¶ And He was saying to them all, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Luke 9:23 ¶ And He was saying to them all, "If anyone wishes to follow Me [as My disciple], he must deny himself [set aside selfish interests], and take up his cross daily [expressing a willingness to endure whatever may come] and follow Me [believing in Me, conforming to My example in living and, if need be, suffering or perhaps dying because of faith in Me]. |
Subject: Take Up Our Cross: What does it mean? |
Bible Note: Dear One: Thank you for your response. In following Jesus we are exhorted "In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." ( 1 Thess. 5:18) Would you not say that we have to be willing to accept what God has given us which may include various trials in live? Paul writes: "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it."(1 Cor. 10:13) You mentioned that "we must take up our cross" and that part of this is to deny ourselves. I enjoy the thought in Romans 6:17-18 that before we were saved we were "servants to sin" and now in Christ we are freed from sin and "became servants of righteousness" I was also thinking that "when we follow him" we have to ask the question "In a spiritual sense where is he"? In Hebrews we find a similar thought "Let us go therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach" Heb.13:13 The Lord Jesus Christ as far as this world is concerned is still in a place of rejection and to identify with him we will suffer reproach for his name. When I read your last paragraph the words of Jesus came to mind "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." (Matt.6:33) May God bless you and your daughter in your work with children. Robert |