The Father's Menu

The Father's Menu

Apostle Dr. Richard Udoh

Saturday, October 26, 2024

A LIFE OF SELF-DENIAL

Like it or not, the call to follow Jesus Christ is a call to self-denial. It’s a call to take up your cross every day and be His disciple. Refusing to take up your cross means you are not worthy to be called a Christian. If you only want to follow Jesus during the easy, rosy seasons, then you’re not truly ready to be His disciple. If you're unwilling to deny yourself certain pleasures, Jesus clearly says that you are not worthy of Him. Without bending the standard for anyone, He declared: “If you don’t take up your cross, you are not worthy of me.”

If we truly love the Lord, we will love what concerns Him. You can't claim to love someone without caring about what matters to them, and the same applies to the Lord! What concerns Him? Souls! But we cannot pursue souls without first living a life of self-denial. You must be willing to go out and win the lost. If you prefer sitting in your air-conditioned car without once speaking to a lost soul, you are neglecting your responsibility and showing a lack of concern for others’ salvation. That is not the heart of a true Christian! Hell is real, and we must take up our cross and talk about Jesus Christ to those who need Him.

It is crucial that we fix our focus on the Cross and identify with Jesus Christ. There is no one worthy like Jesus—no, not one. Through Him, we are made righteous, sanctified, and redeemed. However, this means nothing if we are not willing to take up our cross daily and live for Him. Our redemption calls us to a life of self-denial, committed to following Christ in all seasons, not just in comfort.

Confession:

I declare, I take up my cross daily. I am willing to endure the loss of friends, family, and even a job for the sake of His name! Jesus Christ is the Lord over my life, and I live solely for His glory. I refuse to compromise my faith, and I find my strength in Him as I follow His path. Amen.
Further Reading:

Luke 14:27 “And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.”

Mark 8:34 “And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.”

Read through the bible in 1 year: Jeremiah 49:23-50:46 Titus 1:1-16 Psalm 97:1-98:9 Proverbs 26:13-16

Read through the bible in 2 years: Job 20-21 & Ps 113