We sometimes forget when Jesus said taht his followers should take up the cross he is calling us to a life of pain.  It is painful to put Jesus before friends, family, and coworkers.  We must deny ourselves more than the last cream pie, the last rolo, or the last taste of apple cider.  We must make hard choices to deal with our issues, our families, and our work situations.  We can not deal with them and line them up with our own passions.  we must line up our lives with the passion of a holy and good God.  What good is it if you gain all of life’s toys for a time but ultimately you spend eternity alienated from your true self?

Luke 9:23-27

²³ Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. ²⁴ For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it. ²⁵ What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self? ²⁶ Whoever is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.

   ²⁷ “Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God.”

Question

• Prepared to die?