In what ways can we "follow Him" more closely in our daily lives? Revisiting the Call: Luke 9:23 “Then He said to all of them, ‘If anyone desires to come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me.’ ” What “Follow” Means at Street Level • “Come after” implies pursuit, not casual interest—ongoing, deliberate movement toward Christ’s likeness. • “Deny himself” signals surrender of self-rule; Christ becomes the deciding voice. • “Take up his cross daily” points to embracing whatever obedience costs, every single day. Daily Practices That Keep Us in Step • Start the morning surrendering plans: “Here’s my day, Lord—direct it.” (Proverbs 3:5-6) • Schedule Scripture before screens; let His words recalibrate priorities. (Psalm 119:105) • Build confession into the commute—acknowledge sin quickly, keep fellowship unbroken. (1 John 1:9) • Ask the Spirit for real-time guidance: “Show me who to serve, what to say, when to be silent.” (Galatians 5:25) Cultivating Self-Denial • Fast periodically—from food, media, or comforts—to remind the flesh who’s in charge. (Matthew 6:16-18) • Redirect compliments upward: “Praise God for that outcome,” shifting glory to Him. (1 Corinthians 10:31) • Give firstfruits, not leftovers, of income and energy. (2 Corinthians 9:7) Shouldering the Cross Daily • Welcome inconvenience for Christ’s sake—helping when it disrupts plans. (Philippians 2:3-4) • Endure ridicule or misunderstanding without retaliation. (1 Peter 4:14) • Stand for truth graciously though culture pressures silence. (Ephesians 6:13-14) Hearing and Following His Voice • Regularly read the Gospels aloud; familiarity breeds recognition. (John 10:27) • Memorize key commands; recall them when decisions arise. (Psalm 119:11) • Test every impulse against Scripture—His voice never contradicts His Word. (2 Timothy 3:16-17) Living in Community • Meet consistently with believers who spur you on. (Hebrews 10:24-25) • Invite accountability; give someone permission to ask hard questions. (Proverbs 27:17) • Serve together—shared mission forges deeper obedience. (Acts 2:44-47) Keeping Eternity in View • Meditate on future reward: “Well done, good and faithful servant.” (Matthew 25:21) • Remember suffering now is “light and momentary” compared to glory ahead. (2 Corinthians 4:17-18) Encouragement for the Journey • Christ’s yoke is easy because He carries the load with us. (Matthew 11:28-30) • His grace trains us to live godly, not merely forgive failure. (Titus 2:11-12) • The Spirit empowers what Christ commands; you’re never left to willpower alone. (Acts 1:8) |
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