Luke 9:23-26
Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves
and take up their cross daily and follow me. 24 For whoever wants to
save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it.
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 when he comes in his glory and in
the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.
Three truths
we must remember to follow Christ:
The DESIRE to Follow (v.23)
Following Jesus requires a deeper knowledge of God, a
deeper desire to pray before acting, and a more serious reflection about the
Christ found in Scripture. (“But when
he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not
speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what
is yet to come.” John 16:13)
The DENIAL of Self (vv.24-26)
To follow Christ means to renounce one’s will and ways
By
living for ourselves we die, by dying to ourselves we live. (Born twice die once)
The DAILY
Walk (v.23)
Every new idea should be born of prayer, quiet
reflection, and careful consideration of the steps and thoughts and heart of Jesus.
(Daily dying to self)
“Go and preach the Gospel, and if you must, use
words.”- St Francis
Be wise today and always – be
consistent.
