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| INSIGHTS FROM SCRIPTURE: In our Luke passage, Jesus’ prediction of his own death is immediately followed by the word that his disciples must also be prepared to suffer. Discipleship involves three aspects of commitment: self-denial, taking up the cross, and obedience. “Let them deny themselves” means making sacrifices and giving up interests, but it means more than that—it means a radical reorientation of life in which the self is no longer the center. The will of God, as known to us through Christ and the Holy Spirit, needs to take the place of our own will. Jesus is demanding that we think of others first, only occasionally remembering ourselves. “Taking up our cross” can mean actual martyrdom, as it did for Stephen. But “taking up our cross daily” may be harder at times than to simply die. A martyr’s heroic sacrifice require. giving up the physical life in one huge act of courage; while sacrificing our self-interests on a daily basis through the years requires moment-by-moment courage. Finally, self-denial and martyrdom are pointless unless they are done for Christ’s sake—unless we are following Jesus, taking his yoke upon us and learning of him. Continued... |
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