The Cross: The Daily Choice of a Disciple

Jesus’ words in Matthew 16:24-26 challenge us with a radical call to discipleship:

“If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?” (Matthew 16:24-26, BSB)

Christianity is far from passive; it demands intentionality and surrender. To follow Christ is to embrace a life of decisive action, beginning with the choice to deny oneself and take up the cross daily. This commitment doesn’t stem from obligation alone—it springs from love and trust in the One who bore the ultimate cross for us.

A Choice Before Salvation

Before salvation, every individual faces the pivotal choice: continue in self-reliance and sin or turn to Christ in faith. The invitation to follow Jesus isn’t just about leaving behind the obvious sins; it’s about relinquishing the illusion of control over our lives. The heart of sin is self-rule, and Jesus calls us to dethrone ourselves and place Him at the center.

Rejecting this invitation leaves a person on the broad road that leads to destruction (Matthew 7:13). Accepting it brings us into fellowship with Christ, a relationship that redefines every aspect of our lives.

A Daily Commitment After Salvation

Once we have chosen to follow Christ, the journey of discipleship continues with a daily, active decision to live in surrender. Jesus reminds us in Matthew 10:38-39:

“Whoever does not take up his cross and follow Me is not worthy of Me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.” (BSB)

Here, the cross is not merely a symbol of suffering but a declaration of surrender. It represents the death of self-will, pride, and worldly ambition. Carrying the cross is not an optional add-on for super-dedicated believers; it’s the standard for every follower of Christ.

The Cost of the Cross

Taking up the cross often means detaching ourselves from the things the world holds dear—status, comfort, and self-preservation. It’s a path of humility, as Henri Nouwen insightfully puts it:

“To travel with Christ on His downward road requires being willing to detach oneself constantly from any need to be relevant, and to trust ever more deeply the Word of God.”

The cost of discipleship may feel great, but the reward is infinitely greater. While the world tempts us with fleeting pleasures and treasures, Jesus offers eternal life and communion with Him. What good is it to gain the whole world but forfeit the soul? The answer is clear: it profits us nothing.

No Middle Ground

Discipleship is an all-or-nothing proposition. There’s no room for neutrality or indifference in the Christian life. As Arthur W. Pink aptly stated, “The Christian life is a life that consists of following Jesus.”

To follow Jesus is to trust Him enough to lay down everything else. The Christian life is not a balancing act between self and Christ but a total yielding to His lordship. This surrender is not a one-time event but a daily, moment-by-moment commitment.

Embracing the Cross

When we pick up our cross, we echo the words of Paul in Galatians 2:20:

“I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.” (BSB)

Our crosses are not burdens to be dreaded but opportunities to walk closer with Jesus. As we surrender, we experience the paradoxical truth of the gospel: in losing our lives, we truly find them.

May we pick up our cross daily and follow Him with joy, for He is worthy of our total devotion. Amen.

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Ken Beaton
Ken graduated from Northpoint Bible College in Haverhill, MA with a B.A. in Biblical Studies/Pastoral Ministry. He and his wife reside in Penfield, NY. Ken is an elder serving in Evangelical Church of Fairport for the past twenty years.