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All I want for Christmas…
At the end of every year in the months of November and December, we ask one another, “what do you want for Christmas?” Most people might say, “nothing, I have all that I need” or “nothing big, whatever you give will be perfect”. But let’s be honest, deep within our hearts, there are things we want. We have desires and dreams of something, someone, somewhere, don’t we?
What are you dreaming of? What are you striving for?
Maybe it’s to have a family, a house, a nice car, a good job, and your bills paid on time. Or maybe you want your own business, or that new corvette they just came out with, or even to spend 2 weeks exploring Europe or Australia. It could be that your dream is to be a published author, a scientist who gets awarded for their work, or to become a mother.
Would you give up the desires of your heart?
Luke 9:23
“And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.”
Jesus is speaking to His disciples and He’s just given them a picture of what it would look like for them to follow Him.
The cross was used in the death of many people in those days for crucifixion. To take up your cross means to be prepared to die. So was Jesus telling the men they needed to be prepared daily to die? In a sense, yes. These men ultimately would give their life for Jesus. But Jesus said “deny himself”.
To deny yourself means giving up your desires. Jesus told these men they would have to give up the desires of their heart and surrender their own will for what God wanted. And they would have to do it every day.
If we have accepted Christ as our Savior, that means we have always accepted Him as Lord. With that declaration comes His authority over our lives. We humbly submit to His will – decisions, purpose and bidding- in our lives. Our desires are now focused on Him and not ourselves. But are we really doing that?
The disciples chose to follow Christ no matter the cost. They gave up everything for what Jesus had for them instead. It wasn’t what they had in mind originally, but it was something far better.
The same can be for us.
Are you willing to follow Christ at all cost? Deny yourself, pick up your cross and follow Him daily.
Wherever He leads, I’ll go.
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