“And he said to them all, ‘If anyone would come after me, let them deny themselves, take up their cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for my sake will save it.’ For what does it profit a person if they gain the whole world and yet loses or forfeits their life?”

We can read those words in a few seconds, but it takes a lifetime or more to learn them. Self-denial does not come naturally. And even if we are able to deny ourselves for one day or one week, what about the next day or week? It is important to note that Jesus tells us to take up our cross daily. The cross is the ultimate picture of self-denial. Even Jesus did not want to take up the cross. He pleaded with the Father for another way, but in the end submitted to the Father’s will. Note that the Father did not force Jesus to do it. Jesus in the end voluntarily accepted the cross. I see the same principle here. Jesus is calling us to voluntarily accept a life of self-denial and to do so daily.

This seems crazy! Why should we deny ourselves things that everyone says are enjoyable and that we have every right to enjoy. Even the Constitution of the USA talks about life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Why should we give up good things? Jesus therefore adds, “whoever would save their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.” This is so hard to believe. Honestly, I don’t think that most Christians believe this. Even more honestly, I sometimes have a hard time believing this on an emotional level. I can say that I believe this intellectually, but when it comes done to living this out each day, I confess that I experience the tension of truly denying myself and taking up the cross. I also sometimes struggle to concretely understand the “taking up of the cross”. Specifically, what does it mean to take up the cross today? But we must learn how to live this out for Jesus unequivocally states that only through self-denial will we find true life. Not even owning the whole world compares.