Scripture:
“Then Jesus told his disciples, ‘If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.'”
— Matthew 16:24 (ESV)
Devotional:
Christianity is not a spectator sport. It’s not about comfort, convenience, or merely attending a service. Jesus made it clear that following Him requires dying to ourselves. To enter His Kingdom, we must surrender—not just with words, but with our entire lives.
Too often, faith is treated as a feel-good experience or a safety net, but Jesus calls us to something deeper. He calls us to surrender everything—our ambitions, rights, and comforts. True discipleship means laying everything before Christ and saying, “Your will, not mine.”
Reflection:
What areas of your life have you been holding back from Jesus? What might it look like for you to truly deny yourself and follow Him?
Memory Verse:
“This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!”
— 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NLT)