“If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me” (Luke 9:23).
Victory in daily life is as integral a part of God’s eternal purpose for believers as salvation itself. But we cannot experience spiritual victory using worldly devices. Too often, we mix Christian beliefs with worldly thinking that appeals to our emotions or intellect. But the invitation Jesus issued wasn’t to come live your best life or learn to be the best you—it was to come and die. And you get a new chance to die each day.
We’ve created a version of Christianity that’s about making our lives more comfortable. That’s not biblical Christianity. Truly following Jesus starts by denying yourself of what the world says you deserve. That means setting aside your selfish interests and pursuing God’s interests, giving up your way of doing things for God’s way.
But self-denial isn’t enough; Jesus calls us to die to self. There can be no other meaning to “take up his cross.” Just as Jesus was crucified for our sins, we’re called to embrace that death daily. That’s what Paul meant when he said, “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me” (Galatians 2:20). To experience the life of Christ, we must also appropriate His death.
What does embracing the crucified life look like? Start by recognizing that sin has no power over you as a believer. Romans 6:11 tells us, “Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus.” So, if you sin it’s because you’ve chosen to listen to self instead of the Holy Spirit. In Christ, you have the power to choose differently—the same power that resurrected Jesus from the dead.
The Christian life isn’t about self-improvement; it’s about self-surrender. The Cross isn’t just the door to salvation; it’s the pathway to daily victory. Simply knowing this truth isn’t enough—it must be applied and acted upon by choosing to say “no” to self and “yes” to Jesus. Did you blow it today? Confess it to the Lord and leave it there. Each day is a new chance to die—and in dying, to truly live.
