The thing that interferes most with my happiness in life is self-focus. Every day I strive to say “no” to it. I want to keep my eyes and my heart fixed on the risen Jesus Christ so I can be one of His disciples.
Jesus defines discipleship by saying: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.” In our world there seems to be a great absence of the three requirements that Jesus gives for discipleship.
1) Self-denial. We can’t follow self and Jesus at the same time because they are going in different directions. To be a disciple of Christ we must deny (ignore) our own desires and continually choose His will instead of our own.
2) Cross-bearing. The cruelty of the cross was the popular means of execution in the Roman Empire. Rather than avoiding pain and suffering, true discipleship requires freely taking it up. Paul described his own discipleship by saying: “I am crucified with Christ,” and “I die daily.”
3) Obedience to the Holy Spirit, “Christ in you, the hope of glory.” Jesus says: “If you love Me, keep my commandments.” Being led moment-by-moment by the Spirit of Christ is essential to discipleship. There’s no other way except to daily follow and obey “the way, the truth, and the life,”–Jesus, the risen Lord and Absolute Master.
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