Scripture For Today
23 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. - Luke 9:23-24 NIV
There is a moment in every believer’s journey where following Jesus becomes more than a confession. It becomes a choice. A daily, deliberate decision to surrender what feels comfortable in exchange for what is holy. Luke 9 invites you into this deeper walk. It calls you to a life shaped by sacrifice, guided by trust, and anchored in a love so strong that it rearranges priorities and redirects the heart.
When Jesus spoke these words, He was not inviting the disciples into something casual. He was showing them the cost and the beauty of true discipleship. He was revealing that following Him was not meant to be an occasional nod of agreement or an occasional act of devotion. It was meant to be a daily journey of choosing His way over your own. A daily choice to lay down pride, fear, comfort, and self reliance to pick up the cross He has assigned to you.
Picture the moment. A diverse crowd stood before Him. Some curious, some convinced, some cautious. They had seen miracles. They had heard His teaching. They had watched Him heal bodies and restore souls. Many admired Him. But admiration is not the same as surrender. Jesus lifted His voice and offered a truth that would sift between the two.
Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves.
This is not a call to self rejection nor self hatred. It is a call to release the throne of your own heart. It is the willingness to say, God, not my will, but Yours. It is the courage to let go of the need to control everything and instead trust the One who already holds everything.
Then Jesus continued. And take up their cross daily.
Not once. Not occasionally. Daily. A cross is not simply a symbol of suffering. It is a symbol of surrender. The cross represents obedience to God even when it is difficult, uncomfortable, or stretching. It represents the willingness to walk in purpose even when the path feels heavy. It represents the commitment to love, forgive, and serve even when it is not convenient.
Finally, Jesus said, Follow me.
He did not ask you to walk ahead of Him. He did not ask you to do the journey without Him. He asked you to follow. That means He is leading. He is guiding. He is clearing the path. He is making a way. You are not carrying your cross alone. You are carrying it behind a Savior who carried His cross first and overcame every battle that could ever stand in your way.
Jesus then reveals a powerful truth. Whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it. In other words, clinging tightly to your plans, your comfort, your way, and your timeline will leave you empty. But opening your hands and allowing God to shape your life will fill you with abundance, wholeness, and purpose that nothing in this world can match.
There is a certain freedom in surrender. The kind of freedom that lifts pressure from your shoulders. The kind that silences fear. The kind that brings peace where striving once lived. When you choose to trust Jesus with your life, you are choosing a path that leads to true life. Not the life the world promises, but the life God designed for you from the beginning.
Every season will bring new invitations to follow Him in deeper ways. Some seasons call you to release something. Others call you to embrace something. But every season calls you to trust. And in every step, Jesus is whispering the same words He spoke then. Follow me. He is not inviting you into loss, but into life. He is not calling you into a life of burden, but into a life of becoming. Becoming more like Him. Becoming more rooted in truth. Becoming more aligned with who God created you to be.
Following Jesus is not always easy, but it is always worth it. For every cross you pick up, there is grace. For every surrender, there is strength. For every step of obedience, there is breakthrough. And for every sacrifice, there is a greater glory unfolding in your life.
Three Practical Ways To Walk Out This Word Daily
1: Practice Daily Surrender
Take a moment each morning to release your plans, expectations, and anxieties to God. Speak the words Jesus prayed in the garden, Not my will, but Yours be done. Let this become the posture of your heart. Proverbs 3:5 to 6 reminds you to trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. Surrender creates space for God to lead you with clarity and peace.
2: Embrace the Cross God Has Assigned
Identify the areas in your life where obedience is difficult, whether it is forgiveness, discipline, humility, or a difficult decision. Ask the Holy Spirit for strength to carry that cross with grace. Luke 9:23 emphasizes the daily nature of this commitment. You do not have to carry tomorrow’s cross today. Focus on staying faithful in the moment God has given you.
3: Follow Jesus Through His Word
You cannot follow someone you do not listen to. Spend intentional time in Scripture to learn the heart, character, and ways of Jesus. John 10:27 says, My sheep listen to my voice. I know them, and they follow me. As you grow in His word, following Him becomes clearer, easier, and more joyful.
Closing Encouragement
May your heart be strengthened today as you follow Jesus with renewed courage and confidence. You are not walking alone. Every step you take is guided by the One who loves you, leads you, and goes before you. As you surrender your plans, embrace the cross before you, and follow Him with intention, may you discover the abundant life that comes only from walking closely with your Savior. Keep following. Keep trusting. A beautiful journey unfolds when Jesus leads the way.