Deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow me

Jesus said, “Deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow me.” Do I see my life in those words or am I seeking a comfortable pilgrimage on this earth? The greatest portrayal of the Gospel was at the cross. I need to let that sink into my heart, for the greatest proclamation of the Gospel in my life is found in this statement, “Deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow me.” To understand this, I must look at the cross. But when I see Christ on the cross these words become stunning and uncomfortable. Impossible. I do not have that in me, anywhere. How could I suffer, in this way? How could I lose my life, in this way? But I must. I must, so that the gospel is preached. Because more stunning and more powerful are the words that call, “follow me”. I think when you see these words for what they are you are like Isaiah who trembled and was helpless. The only place I see these words for what they are are in His presence and the only way I can live them is in His presence. If Christ did not say “follow me” there would be no hope. But He does say this and that He is with us, even to the ends of the earth.

–Hebrews 12:1,2