Luke 9:23–27 (ESV)
Take Up Your Cross and Follow Jesus
23 And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. 24 For
whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. 25 For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself?
26 For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. 27 But
I tell you truly, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God.”
Because Jesus is the only way to eternal life, following Him
demands that we reorder our priorities, putting Him in first place and setting aside whatever does not accord with His way. This proves impossible for us but not for our Lord, who embraces and bears our crosses and shame that He might present us righteous
before His dear Father.
I pray: “ ‘Take up your cross,’ the Savior said, ‘If you would My disciple be; Forsake the past, and come this day,
And humbly follow after Me.’ ” Amen.
Edward A. Engelbrecht, The Lutheran Study Bible (St. Louis, MO: Concordia Publishing House, 2009), 1731.