Good Morning Sunshine! You Must Pick It Up! No Cross, No Crown!

Luke 9:23-24 NKJV ~ “Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. [24] For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it.”

The Christian journey is one that invites you to carry your cross, you must be willing to endure trials, make sacrifices, and stand firm in faith. Jesus made it clear that to follow Him means to embrace discomfort, sacrifice, and selflessness. It is through the “cross” that you are refined and shaped, becoming more like Jesus Christ. The road is not always easy, but it is through the challenges that you experience the fullness of His grace and power.

Jesus had just told His disciples, that He would soon suffer many things and be killed. And then He told them this, if you are going to follow me it is going to cost you something as well. You need to deny self and stop giving empty sacrifices and surrender to God! For if there is anything that you are holding onto that is keeping you from an all-out, passionate walk with Jesus Christ, it has got to go! Selfishness and Kingdom living don’t go together! You have to decrease so that God may increase in you!

Jesus said you have to take up your cross and follow Him, daily. The cross is a symbol of the sacrifice that Jesus made for you, He willingly choose to sacrifice Himself, and to die for you out of love and obedience His Father. When you truly love God, you won’t make hollow promises and sacrifices that look good on the outside but it’s empty in the inside. Because of His sacrifice and service, you should desire to sacrifice and serve too!

Now, you have looked at self, sacrifice and now surrender! When you do the first two things, your desire to totally surrender to God becomes natural! You are totally committed to Him! It goes beyond you just giving a few hours, at a Sunday morning service, or serving at a church event every once in a while! You are willing to give it all. Losing your life for Jesus Christ means that you are completely and totally surrendered what He says, and obedience becomes your everything!

In life, many of you long for the rewards, the crown, the peace, and the victory. But the truth is, there can be no crown without the cross. The crown of eternal life, victory over sin, and God’s purpose for you cannot be fully realized unless you walk through the struggle of discipleship. The cross symbolizes the cost of following Jesus Christ, and it is through your obedience, perseverance, and faithfulness that you can claim the promise of the crown that awaits you.

Jesus invites you to take up your cross, not in defeat, but in victory. The path to the crown is not without hardship, but it leads to a glorious reward. The struggles of this life pale in comparison to the eternal glory that is to come. You are not promised an easy road, but you are promised that He will be with you every step of the way. It is in the midst of trials that you experience and encounter the power of His Presence and His Grace that sustains you.

Jesus Christ journey to the cross was one of unimaginable pain, suffering, and separation from the Father. Yet, He willingly embraced it because of His love for you. He endured the shame, the ridicule, and the physical torment because He knew that the crown of victory over sin and death was the ultimate reward. Likewise, you are called to take up your cross daily, and to know and understand that the challenges and trials you face are opportunities to grow in faith and draw closer to God.

In times of hardship, it’s easy to question the purpose of your struggles or to feel as though you’ve been forsaken. Yet, the cross is here to remind you that God is always working, even in your pain. The trials you face are not in vain, they are part of God’s perfect plan for your life, shaping you to be more like His Son. The Apostle Paul encourages you in Romans 8:18, saying, “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.” What you endure in this life is small in comparison to the eternal glory that awaits you in Heaven.

The cross teaches you humility and submission. It is not about your own desires or ambitions, but about living in obedience to God’s Will. Jesus Christ, though fully God, humbled Himself to the point of death on the cross. He set aside His own comfort and desires to fulfill the Father’s Will and redeem humanity. As you take up your cross, you are reminded that true greatness in the Kingdom of God comes through humility and self-sacrifice, not through seeking power or recognition.

Be encouraged today to bear your cross with faith and endurance, knowing that the crown that awaits you is far greater than anything you can imagine. In every trial, you can look to Jesus as your example, trusting that He will give you the strength to persevere. His promise is sure: “Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial, because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him” (James 1:12).

Let’s Pray:
Father, Thank You! Thank You, Father, no matter how I say it, it is wonderful, because of who You are, You are a Sovereign God. Father, I come before You today with my heart full of gratitude for Your unwavering love and grace. Father, I thank You for the example of Your Son, Jesus Christ, who shows me what it means to live a life of sacrifice, obedience, and love. Father, help me to embrace the cross in my life, to deny myself, and to follow You with all out of my heart. I know that the road may be difficult, but I trust in Your promises and that You will never leave me nor forsake me. Father, give me the strength to endure the hardships that come my way and to see the trials as opportunities to grow in my faith and to draw me closer to You. Father, remind me every day that no matter what I face, I am not alone. You are with me, and You have promised me victory through Your Son, Jesus Christ. Father, I long for the crown that You have promised me, but I know that it is only through the cross that I can attain it. Teach me to walk faithfully in the path that You have set before me, and may my life fully reflect Your love and grace. Help me to live with humility, always seeking to do Your Will above my own. Father, strengthen me to endure, and fill me with hope, knowing that Your Glory is revealed in and through me as I follow the example of You set before me. In the Name of Jesus Christ. Amen!

Blessings…
Love, Minister Jean
Have A Blessed Weekend…