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Proverbs of a 37 yr old man
Discipleship demands sacrifice, and Jesus never hid that cost. Following Jesus is easy when life runs smoothly; our true commitment to Him is revealed during trials. Jesus assured us that trials will come to His followers. Take up your cross is more than a symbolic burden or self pitying pride. It is putting to death our own ideas, plans, and desires, and exchanging them for His. Commitment to Christ means taking up your cross daily, giving up your hopes, dreams, possessions, even your very life if need be for the cause of Christ. Only if you willingly take up your cross may you be called His disciple. The reward is worth the price. Jesus followed His call of death to self (“Take up your cross and follow Me”) with the gift of life in Christ: “For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for Him. We must continue in the faith, it is through many tribulations we must enter into the kingdom of God. After all, God chose you to suffer as you follow in the footsteps of Christ, who set an example by suffering for you.
Study Luke 14:27