What is meant by Luke 9:23

In this verse, the writer is telling us to do two things. We should first deny ourselves, and then we should follow Jesus Christ by taking up our cross. In this article, we will meditate on both these things.

Deny Yourself

 

As we all believe in Jesus Christ and we are the followers of Jesus Christ, then it becomes a basic thing for us to deny ourselves while following Jesus Christ. This means that when we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord, we tell the Lord that this life is no longer mine. Now, you should run my life. We have to bring all the pride, worries, jealousy, ego, selfishness of our life to your feet and tell the Lord that not my will or my desire but your will and desire should be done in my life. Why do we commit sins even after coming to the Lord or why do we commit sins? The reason for this is that we have not denied ourselves even after coming to the Lord. When someone does bad to us, what thoughts come to our mind that we should also do bad to them or go and fight with them that how did they do bad to me. We do not forgive them and keep bitterness towards them in our heart. All these thoughts come to our mind because we want to follow our will or desire in our life. At that time we do not pay attention to what God wants from me in this situation or what does he want to teach me. Denying ourselves means that in every situation we have to live such a life as the Word says and what God wants from us. We do not have to follow our will in every situation. Denying ourselves means to bring our work, our relationships, our thoughts in front of the Lord and tell the Lord that all this is not ours but yours which you have given us. So we can move forward in our life according to your will. Following the Lord means that the Lord's goal and His will should be fulfilled in our life and not ours.

 

Let us understand this with an example from the Bible. When we read the 9th chapter of the Acts of the Apostles, Saul is mentioned there who later came to be known as Paul. One of the goals of Saul's life was to threaten and kill the disciples of Jesus Christ. To fulfill his goals, he went to the chief priests many times so that he could get permission to harass the disciples more or kill them more. However, while traveling, Paul encounters Jesus Christ, who instructs him to get up and go to the city, where he would teach him what has to be done. Paul has his own agenda. But when Paul met Jesus, he denied himself and gave up his goal and fulfilled the goal of Jesus Christ with his life. So we also have to deny ourselves in our life. Many times the thought may come in our mind that this is my life so why should I not do my will in it. But we should fulfill the will of the Lord with our life and deny ourselves.

 

Take up your cross and follow Jesus Christ

 

We have been bought by the Lord, so we have to fulfill the plans and will of God with our life and not ours.