"Then Jesus said to His disciples, 'If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me." (Matthew 16:24)
When is the last time any of us ever heard a person say, "When I began to follow Jesus....?"
Our text, which includes the Words, "deny," and, "follow," is a source of despair to the "I-did-it-my-way" in us. We should realize, however, that the best thing you and I can do for ourselves is to deny ourselves and follow------------------- Jesus.
Father, in Jesus' Name, I surrender anew myself to deny myself, take up Your Cross, and follow You. Amen.
When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"
Hebrews 12:2
