{"id":45349,"date":"2021-03-04T00:20:18","date_gmt":"2021-03-03T21:20:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wingulamashahidi.org\/?p=45349"},"modified":"2025-05-11T23:56:44","modified_gmt":"2025-05-11T20:56:44","slug":"what-does-it-mean-to-deny-yourself-and-take-up-your-cross","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wingulamashahidi.org\/en\/2021\/03\/04\/what-does-it-mean-to-deny-yourself-and-take-up-your-cross\/","title":{"rendered":"What Does It Mean to Deny Yourself and Take Up Your Cross?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Question:<\/strong> What did Jesus mean when He said we must deny ourselves and take up our cross? What does that actually look like in real life?<\/em><\/p>\n

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Mark 8:34\u201337 (NIV)<\/strong><\/h3>\n

\u201cThen he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: \u2018Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?\u2019\u201d<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

This is one of the most radical and defining teachings of Jesus about discipleship. He lays out three clear requirements:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Deny yourself<\/li>\n
  2. Take up your cross<\/li>\n
  3. Follow Him<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Let\u2019s break that down.<\/p>\n

    \n

    1. Denying Yourself\u00a0 \u00a0Submitting Your Will to God’s<\/strong><\/h3>\n

    To deny yourself<\/strong> means to surrender your own desires, preferences, and personal ambitions in order to do God\u2019s will. It’s a call to place God’s values, commandments, and purpose above your own feelings or opinions.<\/p>\n

    This isn\u2019t about hating yourself it\u2019s about letting go of self-centeredness.<\/p>\n

    Theologically:<\/h4>\n

    Self-denial is the first step in genuine discipleship. It reflects repentance<\/strong>, which means turning from sin and selfishness toward God.<\/p>\n

    Romans 12:1 (NIV)<\/strong>
    \n\u201cTherefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God\u2019s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God\u2014this is your true and proper worship.\u201d<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

    Real-life Examples:<\/h4>\n