Taking Up Your Cross

When Christ Calles a man, he bids him come and die. 
-Dietrich Bonhopper


Matthew 10:38 &39

If you refuse to take up your cross and follow me, you are not worthy of being mine. If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for me, you will find it.

Mark 8:34-36

34 Then, calling the crowd to join his disciples, he said, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me. 35 If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will save it. 36 And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul?

We are called to be “set apart” BUT

-The temptation is to try and change the outside first ( I am going to stop doing this, or start doing that, or do this more, or do that less)

-True change is Inside –Out Change (asking Jesus to soften your heart and teach you how to live)

Psalm 51:16-17
16 You do not desire a sacrifice, or I would offer one.
You do not want a burnt offering.
17 The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit.
You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God.

Never starts with doing more, Always starts with surrendering more.