Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. Luke 9:23 (NKJV)
Do you realize that what comes out of your heart is what you really worship, and that it is always related to self? Jesus knew that we tend to worship ourselves, and He told us that if we are to be His disciples we have to deny ourselves, including the sinful desires of the flesh, in order to take up the cross and follow Him. It is only then that we can live like Him and reflect Him and His glory in our lives.
If we are truly Christ centered we can say that we are loving God with our whole heart, mind and soul and that we can love our neighbor as much as we already love ourselves. That’s what it means to live a cross-centered life. Do you know what it means to live with the cross in view in your daily life?
It means that we apply the crucifixion to to our flesh (or desires of the sinful nature). We acknowledge that these things were really put to death at the cross. What was crucified at the cross with Christ was the power of these sins to reign over the believer-the power to control or dominate and rule your life.
Yes, there still is a battle and sometimes the battle is hot and raging as you struggle to subdue your flesh and its outrageous desires! Sometimes those desires can feel so strong that they feel overpowering and unconquerable!
Study Romans 6:1-11 to see what I mean, but you must understand and believe that it all begins in your heart- with setting your affections on Him more than on yourself!
Paul always reminds us that we have a choice to make. We can seek to glorify ourselves and insist on our desires or we can live to glorify God and insist on His desires.
So be transformed…
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:2 (NASB)
Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. Colossians 3:1-2 (NIV)
"Best of" Series running the rest of the week while I am speaking at the IABC Conference in Denver, CO. If you are in Denver, come to the conference! I would love to meet you!