Let him deny himself.

Luke 9:23-25, And He was saying to them all, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life shall lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake, he is the one who will save it. For what is a man profited if he gains the whole world, and loses or forfeits himself?"

The disciples didn't comprehend a suffering Messiah any more than we do. This idea is certainly not appealing, not something I really want to write about or even consider. We know that Jesus struggled with what lay ahead even on the night of His betrayal. We know that we are blessed to be saved by His perfect sacrifice, but what He means by denying ourselves and taking up His cross seems horrific. We know the fleeting nature of the world around us, and the eternal nature of His kingdom, but how far are we willing to trust Him? What He says makes no earthly sense; are we willing to learn what He means by taking up our cross daily and following Him?

Help me to learn more about You, to deny myself and to trust You even at my cross.