FOLLOW JESUS

Passage: Luke 9:23-27

Key verse: 23

NIV

23 Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.(A) 24 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it.(B) 25 What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self? 26 Whoever is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them(C) when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.(D)

27 “Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God.”

Read full chapter
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

Take Up Your Cross and Follow Jesus

23 And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him (A)deny himself and (B)take up his cross (C)daily and follow me. 24 For (D)whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. 25 (E)For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself? 26 For (F)whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed (G)when he comes in (H)his glory and the glory of the Father and of (I)the holy angels. 27 But I tell you truly, there are some standing here who will not (J)taste death (K)until they see the kingdom of God.”

Read full chapter
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

1. If anyone would come after me (23)

If one wants to follow Jesus he must first deny himself. This means that I must take myself from the center of my life and put Jesus there. I must regard Jesus' commands as a little better than my own plans and ideas. Second, one must take up his cross daily. This means that I must accept positively the life and the mission God has given me--and do it afresh every day. If I do not take up the cross that Jesus gives me, then I must carry the burden of my own sins and sorrows.

2. Lose life to save it (24-27)

Those who try to save their lives by protecting themselves and by seeking their own pleasure and happiness will be losers in life. But those who invest their lives, without holding back, for Jesus' sake and the gospel's, will gain real happiness. We must not be ashamed of Jesus, for he will surely come in glory to establish his kingdom and reign forever.

Prayer: Lord, help me not to be selfish. Help us to teach our children to be sacrificial, not selfish.

One Word: Selfish people are losers