Matthew 10:38-39
Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.

Hi, Pastor Bob here. Welcome back to the Men of Valor and Daily Living podcast. The verse for today is from the book of Matthew, chapter 10, verses 38 and 39. And they state, “‘Whoever does not take up their cross and follow Me is not worthy of Me. Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for My sake will find it.’”

"If you could ask Jesus for anything, what would it be?"

I'm gonna stop you right there and ask you: If you could ask Jesus for anything, what would it be? If you're not sure, just think about your recent prayers, or your deep thoughts and your wants. They will tell you exactly what you really desire.

James and his brother John’s request is absolutely so honest, so revealing, so convicting! Verse 35 says they came up to Jesusm and said, ‘Teacher, we want You to give us whatever we ask.’ Wow! What an amazing answer to that question of ‘what do you want’! ‘Anything I ask!’ If you're saying, ‘How could they even think or ask such a thing - I would never do that!’ - you're either not honest with yourself, or you’re a way better person than anyone I ever knew before Christ changed their perspective.

Then Jesus, in His typical fashion, answers their question with a question: ‘What do you want Me to do for you?’ And they say they want to sit next to Him in heaven, and He asks them another question: ‘Can you drink the cup I drink, or be baptized with the baptism I'm going to be baptized with?’ Jesus knew that He was gonna be baptized with a crown of thorns on His head, thirty-nine lashes with a whip, and a very bloody, painful crucifixion. They couldn't possibly answer that question correctly, not knowing what His future baptism and the cup of wrath for our sins was that Jesus was about to receive.

"...the power of God...transforms a man to surrender his life of sin to become a true follower...whatever the cost may be."

Then as the Lord graced me more and more - and I began being discipled by Pastor - I actually started reading the Bible. I saw what taking up the cross and drinking from the true cup actually meant for many people! That cup sometimes grows to a consuming burning desire to live to do His will, and it sometimes overtakes and transforms a person to become completely Kingdom minded for Christ instead of himself.

I've read testimonies of martyrs that would rather die than deny Christ. I've read testimonies of missionaries that became slaves - because only slaves could talk to other slaves - which eventually led to an entire island of slaves and owners being converted once they heard the true Gospel. And I’ve read the sufferings of the apostle Paul, and all the things others endured, to fulfill the Father's will for their lives. I’ve also witnessed Pastors that have given their lives to feed the sheep - even when it cost them and their families almost everything. That is totally the power of God that transforms a man to surrender his life of sin to become a true follower of the Lord Jesus Christ - whatever the cost may be.

But here Scripturally is an amazing thing: No matter how much work a person does, he’s saved only by believing what Christ did on the cross, asking Jesus to be their savior, and making Him their Lord - meaning picking up the cross and obeying all His commands, thus living for Jesus Christ instead of themself. Galatians 6:14 says, “May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.” And Ephesians 2, 8 and 9, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast.” We can only boast in the cross of Christ.

"...start today...pick up your cross, and follow Him."